Studie, mogelijk een stilleven c. 1915 - 1920

Willem Witsen made this study, possibly for a still life, with crayon, and it lives at the Rijksmuseum. There's something lovely in the way Witsen’s marks feel so exploratory and process-driven, each stroke building up a sense of form through repetition and layering. The limited palette of a single reddish-brown crayon keeps things simple, but that’s where the magic happens! The texture created by the crayon on paper feels immediate, like you could almost reach out and touch the fuzziness of the marks. Look at how Witsen uses short, hatching strokes to define the shadows and contours, giving the objects weight and volume. And the way he leaves some areas untouched, letting the white of the paper peek through, adds air and light to the composition. It's that balance between precision and spontaneity that makes the piece sing. You know, seeing this, I'm reminded a bit of Morandi and his quiet, contemplative still lifes. There's a similar sense of intimacy and focus on the essential qualities of everyday objects. It really highlights art as a form of conversation.