Abklatsch van een krijttekening c. 1887 - 1888

This image shows a transfer of a chalk drawing by Willem Witsen. Although faint, the central image evokes a sense of absence or a ghostly presence, a motif resonating across time and cultures. Consider the *imago clipeata*, the framed portrait of the deceased, an ancient Roman custom meant to keep the memory of the dead alive within the household. Here, a similar psychological mechanism seems to be at play. The blurred figure hints at something lost, prompting our collective memory to fill in the gaps. It is an echo of a past moment captured, an emotional trigger engaging viewers on a subconscious level. This act of replication reminds us of the cyclical progression of symbols, their power to resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.