Abklatsch van een tekening c. 1910 - 1915

This is an offset print by Willem Witsen, held in the Rijksmuseum. Although this print may appear like a blank page, it is Witsen’s ‘Abklatsch van een tekening’ or ‘offset of a drawing’. Witsen was a Dutch artist closely associated with the Amsterdam Impressionism movement. He had a deep fascination for urban scenes, atmospheric effects, and the changing cityscapes of Amsterdam in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was part of a generation of artists reflecting on the rapid social and economic changes in Europe during that time. Witsen, along with other Dutch artists, was concerned with capturing fleeting moments and subtle shifts in light and atmosphere, challenging the conventions of traditional academic painting and aligning with broader European trends. Historical documents, artist letters, and exhibition reviews can illuminate the social context that shaped Witsen's artistic practice. The meaning of this work, like all art, is contingent on its social and institutional context.