Abklatsch van de tekening op pagina 34 recto 1854 - 1914

This ghostly image is a transfer drawing by Albert Neuhuys, likely dating to the late 19th century. It was made using a technique called "abklatsch," a method of creating a print by pressing a sheet of paper against a freshly drawn image. The result is a delicate, almost ethereal impression, where the original drawing becomes both source and matrix for a new image. Look closely, and you'll see the subtle textures and variations in tone, the evidence of pressure and contact between the two surfaces. It’s a technique that embraces chance, where the artist relinquishes some control over the final outcome. The "abklatsch" method sits at the intersection of drawing and printmaking, blurring the lines between unique artwork and reproducible image. It invites us to consider the labor involved in artistic creation, and how the act of reproduction can transform our understanding of originality. Ultimately, it reminds us that even in the most seemingly simple of processes, there is a world of technical knowledge at play.