Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 71 c. 1884 - 1887

Willem Witsen created this work, Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 71, date unknown, using a technique of transfer from a chalk drawing. The subdued gray tones create a soft, almost dreamlike atmosphere, inviting contemplation. The visible texture, a result of the transfer process, adds depth to the otherwise flat surface. It's as if the image is emerging from the very material it inhabits. Witsen's choice to preserve this texture over crisp representation points to an interest in the materiality of the image itself. The ghostly image resists clear representation. This aesthetic decision reflects the broader concerns of artists at the time who were looking for ways to challenge fixed meanings. By foregrounding process and texture, the artwork invites us to question what we see. It suggests a world of transient forms and unstable identities, an experience of visual uncertainty and philosophical questioning.