Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 21 c. 1897 - 1899

Editor: This is "Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 21," a drawing in ink and pencil on paper, made around 1897-1899 by Willem Witsen. It's… hazy, almost like looking at a memory. What can you tell me about it? Curator: I see a reflection of the tumultuous fin-de-siècle period. These sketchbooks often became spaces for artists to negotiate anxieties related to rapid industrialization and urbanization. Given Witsen’s background and social circle, the incomplete nature and blurred lines can also be a quiet commentary on the uncertainty of societal shifts during the time. Editor: So the incompleteness isn’t a lack of skill, but more of a… statement? Curator: Precisely! Consider how the rise of photography was impacting art. Artists weren't necessarily trying to perfectly replicate reality anymore, but instead capture fleeting impressions, the emotional residue of a scene. Are we looking at a commentary of representation, where perfect depictions are oppressive in their rigidity? Or a quiet rebellion from conventional modes of artwork? Editor: That makes sense. The "hazy" quality I initially saw now feels more deliberate. It makes me wonder about Witsen’s intent. Was this for himself, or was he trying to communicate something broader about society? Curator: I would ask further, for whom did Witsen create it? Did his gender or class influence the choices he made? Think about who has historically been afforded the opportunity to even make art. It invites us to question these historical structures of power. Editor: This definitely gives me a lot to think about, thank you! Curator: My pleasure. Now go forth and question every artistic choice.