Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 43 c. 1884 - 1887

This is a chalk drawing by Willem Witsen, its title indicating that it's a copy of another drawing. Witsen was a Dutch artist who lived from 1860 to 1923. He was part of the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, which focused on capturing everyday life and the urban environment. The Rijksmuseum's records don't say when this drawing was made, but its existence raises an interesting question about the social life of art. The title tells us this is a copy, perhaps made by a student learning from an original, or by the artist to explore form and technique. How was art education structured at the time? What were the prevailing aesthetic values that made such copying a valuable exercise? The art of this time served not only to represent the world but also to shape perceptions and understandings of it. Further research into the artist’s techniques, the curriculum of art schools at the time, and the cultural value placed on imitation could give a deeper understanding of this seemingly simple drawing.