Studie c. 1887 - 1888

Willem Witsen made this graphite drawing called "Studie," which resides in the Rijksmuseum. The composition is dominated by diffuse, smoky graphite marks, creating an atmosphere of indistinct forms. A heavier concentration of graphite towards the upper right offers a visual anchor, yet the overall effect remains ethereal and transient. The sketch evokes a sense of mystery and the unknown, almost like a landscape seen through fog. The lack of defined shapes invites the viewer to engage in a process of subjective interpretation, echoing ideas found within existentialism and phenomenology where perception shapes our understanding of reality. Witsen destabilizes the conventional relationship between the artwork and its viewer by refusing to present a clear, unambiguous image. Instead, he prompts us to question the nature of representation and the limits of our perception. The very form of this work undermines traditional aesthetic values, embracing ambiguity as a mode of expression and resisting the constraints of fixed meaning, thereby inviting ongoing interpretation.