Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 16 c. 1884 - 1887

This print by Willem Witsen is held at the Rijksmuseum. It features an off-white plane, a matrix for dark stains. A vertical shadow descends from the top, evoking a sense of depth, a void. Witsen's approach to composition here can be seen through the lens of structuralism. The interplay between figure and ground is not just about aesthetics; it’s a system of signs. What does it mean for the image to be a ‘copy’ of a chalk drawing? Is it deconstructing the traditional notions of originality and authenticity? The print's materiality challenges the artwork's status as a unique object. The seemingly simple act of reproduction disrupts the established values of art, inviting us to question the very essence of what we consider to be original versus copy. It becomes part of an ongoing dialogue about art's role in a world of ever-increasing reproduction and representation.