Schetsboek met 23 bladen 1878

This is Willem Witsen's sketchbook, containing 23 sheets, created at an unknown date. Witsen, who lived from 1860 to 1923, was a Dutch artist, and this sketchbook now resides in the Rijksmuseum. The sketchbook is a fascinating object because it allows us to consider the conditions of artistic production. What did it mean for an artist in the Netherlands during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to keep a sketchbook? Was this for personal use or with an audience in mind? The very existence of this sketchbook raises questions about the institutionalization of art and the role of the artist in society. To understand this work better, we might research the artist's life, the art world of his time, and the role of institutions like the Rijksmuseum in preserving and presenting such artifacts. By studying these sources, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the social and institutional context in which this sketchbook was created and consumed.