Vrouwelijk naakt naast een bed c. 1887 - 1892

Willem Witsen captured this sketch of a female nude next to a bed, sometime between 1870 and 1923, using graphite on paper. Witsen, a member of the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, was deeply engaged with representing the intimate and everyday aspects of life. It’s interesting to consider how the male gaze operates here, in a time when artistic and social norms often dictated a specific representation of women. The depiction of the nude in a private space invites contemplation on themes of vulnerability and exposure. The loose lines and unfinished quality of the sketch create a sense of immediacy, drawing us into the artist's personal observations. The sketch challenges us to think about the power dynamics inherent in such portrayals, and to reflect on how these images shape our perceptions of gender and intimacy.