Meisje met een kat op schoot c. 1888 - 1891

Willem Witsen created this drawing, 'Girl with a Cat on her Lap', with pencil. The drawing strikes one as a study in contrasts and implied forms. The left portion is dominated by a smooth textured surface, seemingly empty and light; juxtaposed against this void is a dark, densely worked area to the right. A girl is positioned in a chiaroscuro of pencil strokes and shading, her face emerging from the darkness, cradling a cat. The overall composition can be understood through semiotics. The blank area may signify absence or potential, while the right segment, with its depth of detail, suggests presence and complexity. Witsen uses the contrast between the two to draw attention to themes of visibility and invisibility. Ultimately, this piece invites ongoing interpretation, questioning the boundaries between what is seen and what remains elusive.