Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 4 c. 1884 - 1887

This chalk drawing by Willem Witsen captures a ghostly cityscape, veiled in mist or perhaps memory. The vertical lines suggest buildings or trees, emerging from a hazy ground. Consider the enduring symbol of the city, present in art since antiquity. From the ziggurats of Mesopotamia to the towering skylines of today, the city embodies human ambition, community, and the relentless march of time. This image evokes a sense of melancholy, of a world fading or obscured. This feeling transcends time; we see similar themes in Romantic landscapes and even in contemporary photography. These cities are more than just physical spaces; they are emotional landscapes reflecting our own anxieties and aspirations. The cyclical nature of history is at play. Cities rise, fall, and are reborn, mirroring our own lives. This drawing by Witsen captures a moment in that cycle, a reminder of the transient nature of human endeavor.