Schetsboek met 44 bladen c. 1884 - 1887

This is the cover of a sketchbook with 44 blank pages, made by Willem Witsen sometime between 1860 and 1923. It is the texture of the material itself – the fibers, stains, and faded markings – that speak to us, a palimpsest of artistic intention and the passage of time. Consider the blank page itself, a potent symbol, a vessel waiting to be filled. Throughout history, blank pages have signified potential, mirroring the human mind before the imprint of experience. Think of the Tabula Rasa, the 'blank slate' of the mind, ready to be inscribed with knowledge and experience. This concept dates back to Aristotle and was central to the philosophy of John Locke. The unused pages resonate with possibilities unrealized, a silent testament to the artist's choices and the journeys not taken. It is a powerful reminder of the cyclical nature of creativity—a recurring motif in the art of all times.