Hoofd van een kind, mogelijk een meisje c. 1884 - 1887

Editor: Here we have Willem Witsen's "Head of a Child, possibly a girl," a pencil drawing from around 1884 to 1887. It's quite delicate and looks like a study. What captures your attention most when you look at this drawing? Curator: The most striking aspect is its raw immediacy. It's not a polished portrait but rather a glimpse into a fleeting moment. Notice how the artist uses subtle shading to give the child's face volume, creating depth from very few lines. How does this ephemeral quality speak to you? Editor: It feels very personal, almost like a memory caught on paper. The unfinished quality adds to that feeling. Curator: Indeed. Incomplete images are often powerful symbols of memory. In what ways do you think Witsen captures the essence of childhood? What does the choice of pencil as a medium say about his intention? Editor: I guess it reflects the fragility and fleeting nature of childhood itself. Pencil is also easily erased; things change. And, now I wonder, who was this child? A family member? Just someone he saw and wanted to sketch? Curator: Exactly! The sketch's ambiguity invites speculation. Witsen, immersed in the Hague School, often sought to portray everyday life. Perhaps this child embodied a particular innocence or vulnerability. Consider also the artistic conventions of portraying children during this time. Do you see echoes of other similar depictions? Editor: Now that you mention it, I can see elements of realism, but also an intimacy that sets it apart from more formal portraits. I didn't expect to get so much from a sketch. Curator: Precisely. These seemingly simple sketches can reveal so much about the artist's eye and the culture they inhabited. A powerful testament to art's ability to capture intangible moments. Editor: I completely agree! I see so much more now than I did at first glance.