Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 81 c. 1884 - 1891

Editor: This is Willem Witsen’s “Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 81,” created sometime between 1884 and 1891. It's a drawing with graphite, pencil, and coloured pencil on paper. It almost looks like a ghostly impression... How do you see this piece, from your perspective? Curator: Considering the materials – graphite, pencil, colored pencil – and the title implying a transfer or "rubbing," it’s vital to understand Witsen's process. This ‘Abklatsch’ method speaks volumes about the labor involved. It highlights reproduction, almost mass production in its own way. What was the original drawing, and how does this reproduction change its value, its status? Editor: That’s interesting. It makes me think about how readily available art is today versus then. Curator: Exactly. Think about the paper, too. Was it expensive, readily available? Who had access to these materials, and what does that say about Witsen’s social circles? This wasn't about high art; it was about exploring a technique and documenting something perhaps considered ephemeral. This method, these materials, blur lines between fine art and craft. Editor: So, it’s almost like he’s elevating the mundane process of copying? Curator: Precisely! Consider also, what purpose did it serve to replicate the image in this fashion? Was he experimenting with a new method, or trying to achieve certain effects, in the late 19th-century Amsterdam art scene? Editor: That gives me a new way to appreciate a drawing that seemed quite simple at first. It is all about the means of production, not just the image itself. Curator: Indeed. The act of making becomes the subject. Thinking about process invites a more comprehensive reading.