Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 58 c. 1886

This is a transfer or 'Abklatsch' of a chalk drawing by Willem Witsen, dating from around the turn of the 20th century. It belongs to a larger sketchbook now held here at the Rijksmuseum. Witsen was part of a generation of Dutch artists who came of age amidst a rapidly changing art world. They were faced with the tension between upholding national traditions and engaging with international modernism. This ghostly image embodies the complexities of artistic production at the time. As a transfer, it sits between an original work and a reproduction, questioning the value we place on artistic authenticity. Consider how the context of the late 19th century shaped Witsen's artistic choices. New technologies of reproduction were emerging, like photography and printmaking, which challenged traditional notions of artistic skill and originality. This artwork asks us to consider how such shifts influenced artistic identity and the institutions of art. To understand this image better, we might look into Witsen's biography, the history of printmaking, and the art criticism of his time. Only then we can grasp how artists negotiate their place within evolving social and institutional landscapes.