Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 11 c. 1884 - 1891

This is an impression of a chalk drawing by Willem Witsen, an artist who lived from 1860 to 1923. Witsen's work invites us to reflect on the shifting cultural landscapes of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The image shows an ethereal, blurred scene, where figures and structures emerge from a haze of chalk. It resists the clarity of academic painting, embracing a more ambiguous, modern aesthetic. Witsen was part of a group of Dutch artists known as the Amsterdam Impressionists. They captured fleeting moments and atmospheric effects of urban life. In this light, the print becomes a reflection of a world in transition. As industrialization and urbanization transformed societies, artists like Witsen turned inward, exploring personal experiences. The smudged quality speaks to the ephemeral nature of memory, and the challenge of preserving individual experience amidst sweeping social changes. It invites us to find beauty in the imperfect and the transient.