Figuurstudies c. 1892 - 1897

Editor: This is "Figuurstudies" or "Figure Studies" by Willem Witsen, made with pencil around 1892 to 1897. It looks like a page from a sketchbook, a collection of quick observations. What strikes me is its simplicity and directness. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This sketchbook page offers us a fascinating glimpse into Witsen's artistic process and the social realities he was engaging with. The immediacy of the sketches—their raw, unfiltered quality—invites us to consider the lives and identities of these figures. What stories do you think Witsen is trying to capture? Are these figures part of the Netherlands’ rising merchant class? What assumptions might we be making based solely on their postures and attire? Editor: I guess they are just everyday people doing everyday things. It is difficult to say for sure. Is that why the poses are so nonchalant? Curator: Exactly. Witsen wasn't interested in idealizing his subjects, he observed them in their mundane reality. Consider the potential socio-political implications of depicting these people in their ordinary existence, at a time of rapid industrialization and shifting social hierarchies. Is there something rebellious in its seemingly banal everydayness? Do you notice class and gender relationships here? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. Seeing art as something active... engaging with identity and even rebellion… I learned something new! Curator: Absolutely! Art often reflects and critiques the world around it, sometimes subtly, sometimes explicitly. This piece reminds us to consider the untold stories, the quiet acts of resistance, and the everyday lives that shape history.