Portret van Wouter Nijhoff c. 1909

Willem Witsen made this tiny portrait of Wouter Nijhoff as an etching. Just imagine the delicate lines and the time it must have taken to make this image emerge! I can imagine Witsen bent over the plate, his eyes squinting in concentration, carefully layering lines to build up the boy’s features. What’s so appealing is the soft light. You can see it in the subtle gradations of tone around the face. And the way he's captured the boy’s gaze, slightly downward, is so tender. I love the way the etched lines create a sense of texture, especially in the hair. It's also fascinating to consider how this piece fits into Witsen's broader practice. Witsen was part of a generation of artists who were deeply interested in capturing everyday life. He used printing techniques to make art more accessible, which is a very generous way to think. The image invites a deeper reflection on the act of portraiture itself. Artists throughout history have conversed this way, building upon each other’s ideas, always innovating with process. It makes me feel part of something bigger, a conversation that spans centuries.