Portret van Jan Hofker c. 1906

Willem Witsen made this small portrait of Jan Hofker using etching, a process of mark-making that feels permanent yet is also subject to chance. Look closely and you'll notice how the physical qualities of the etching shape the image. The lines are delicate but confident, capturing the sitter’s likeness with both precision and sensitivity, while the variations in line weight and density create a sense of depth and shadow, giving the image a tactile presence. See that area around the hair? The marks become more frenetic, a flurry of energy that is so playful against the staid formality of the portrait as a whole. It reminds me of the work of James McNeill Whistler, particularly in its exploration of tone and atmosphere. But Witsen brings his own distinct sensibility to the medium. Ultimately, it feels like a conversation about process as much as it does about the sitter.