Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 79 c. 1884 - 1891

This is a chalk drawing by Willem Witsen, dating back to the late 19th or early 20th century. Here, the dominant visual element is the form of an indistinct landscape, shrouded in a veil of obscurity, a motif that recurs throughout art history. Think of the mists in Caspar David Friedrich's landscapes, or the atmospheric hazes in Turner's seascapes. This artistic choice is not merely representational, but also symbolic. Mists and shadows can signify the transient nature of life, the elusiveness of memory, or the sublime power of nature, all of which evoke a deep emotional response. We see the artist employing the use of shadow to evoke a psychological state, in much the same way that chiaroscuro was used in Renaissance paintings to evoke emotional depth. Over time, its meaning has evolved, resonating with different cultural and philosophical contexts. This image invites us to consider the collective memory and subconscious processes that may have shaped the production and interpretation of this motif. The symbol of obscurity is not static but rather undergoes a cyclical progression, resurfacing and evolving across time.