Portret van Martha van Eeden-van Vloten 1890 - 1891

Willem Witsen created this portrait of Martha van Eeden-van Vloten using charcoal and chalk. At the time, Witsen was part of the Dutch art movement known as the Tachtigers, or Eighties Movement, which vehemently opposed the then-dominant romanticism in Dutch art. Instead of focusing on the aesthetics, the group centered on realism and impressionism, emphasizing individual and emotional expression. Here, Martha's gaze seems to pierce through the surface, inviting us to see her not merely as a subject, but as a person with depth. Notice how Witsen uses light and shadow to sculpt her face, giving her an almost ethereal quality. The rough, textured strokes of charcoal create a sense of immediacy, as if we are witnessing a fleeting moment in time. The drawing is more than just a representation of a person; it's an invitation to see the world through her eyes, to feel the emotions that lie just beneath the surface.