Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 24 c. 1897 - 1900

This is "Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 24" by Willem Witsen, held at the Rijksmuseum. It is a transfer or print taken from a chalk drawing. The image appears to be dominated by horizontal bands of faded, indistinct forms, with a stark contrast between the dark, dense areas and the empty, white space of the paper. This contrast between presence and absence creates a ghostly, ethereal effect, and an impression of something fading or being erased. Looking at the semiotic structure of the image, we might see the transfer technique itself as a signifier. The "Abklatsch", or print, becomes a copy of a copy, a simulacrum of an original idea, and so raises questions about authenticity and representation. In this way, the work challenges fixed meanings and values, inviting a deeper exploration of perception, power, and representation in art.