Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 20 c. 1886 - 1891

This is Willem Witsen’s “Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 20,” a transfer of a chalk drawing, exact date unknown. Witsen was a part of the Amsterdam Impressionism movement. Consider the late 19th century, a period marked by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and shifting social structures. Artists began grappling with questions of identity and place within this changing world. Here, Witsen uses the technique of transferring a chalk drawing, embracing the accidental and ephemeral qualities of the medium. What is the significance of capturing an image in this roundabout way? There's a sense of something fleeting, perhaps like memory itself. Imagine Witsen in his studio, carefully pressing the chalk drawing onto another surface, trying to capture a moment, a feeling, before it fades away. This work exists as a trace of a trace. Consider how it serves as a reminder of the transient nature of existence. It prompts us to contemplate the stories and histories embedded within the artwork.