Annotatie Possibly 1906 - 1909

This is a page from Willem Witsen's sketchbook, an intimate glimpse into the working methods of an artist in the Netherlands in the late 19th and early 20th century. The sketchbook itself can be seen as a product of the art academy, a place where artists were trained to observe and record the world around them. In the Netherlands at this time, there was a strong emphasis on realism and capturing the everyday life of the Dutch people. The pages of the sketchbook are filled with quick sketches and notes, capturing fleeting moments and impressions. The Rijksmuseum, where this sketchbook is now housed, plays a crucial role in shaping our understanding of Dutch art history. By collecting and preserving these objects, the museum helps to create a narrative about the nation's artistic achievements. As art historians, we can use sketchbooks like this, alongside letters, exhibition catalogs, and other archival materials, to gain a deeper understanding of the artist's process and the social and cultural context in which they worked.