Italiaanse namen, mogelijk van Venetiaanse kerken Possibly 1914 - 1916

This blank notebook page by Willem Witsen at the Rijksmuseum is a canvas for potential. I imagine Witsen, notebook in hand, maybe in Venice, ready to capture a moment, a feeling, or maybe just a name. The page is empty, but the possibilities aren't. What was he thinking when he decided not to draw? Maybe he felt overwhelmed, or maybe he was just taking a breath, gathering his thoughts before diving in. It reminds me of those moments in the studio when I'm staring at a blank canvas, feeling both excited and terrified. The potential of what *could* be is so enormous, it can be paralyzing. It’s interesting to think of the dialogue between artists over time. A blank page can be a statement in itself, a pause in the conversation, or a challenge to the next artist to pick up where Witsen left off.