Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 84 c. 1887 - 1888

Willem Witsen created this chalk drawing, now at the Rijksmuseum, in the late 19th or early 20th century. The central image evokes a tree, but it's presented as a shadowy impression rather than a clear representation. The tree is an archetypal image, deeply rooted in human consciousness. In ancient cultures, it served as the axis mundi, connecting the earthly and divine realms. Consider the Norse Yggdrasil or the Tree of Knowledge in Genesis; both embody profound spiritual and existential concepts. Witsen's use of the tree symbol as an indistinct form invites a psychoanalytic interpretation. The dreamlike quality stirs our collective memory, engaging our subconscious with themes of growth, decay, and the cyclical nature of life. The deliberate obscuring of the image makes the viewer confront what is there but cannot be seen; it represents something powerful, elusive, and timeless.