Abklatsch van de tekening op blad 4 recto c. 1915 - 1921

Willem Witsen made this drawing on paper and he approached the page with an investigative eye. The subtle discolorations and stains scattered around the paper act like a gentle reminder that artmaking is a process. In the drawing, the surface is quite muted, with an incredible array of off-white and pale tones. There’s a concentration of marks on the left-hand side, like residue from cleaning brushes – this subtle accumulation of gesture feels like a shadow or echo of the artist’s movements. The more I look at this piece, the more I understand that this artwork is about the artist’s process. Witsen was an etcher, photographer, and painter, and you can see him working across these different mediums. This particular drawing feels like an open invitation to slow down and look closely, to appreciate the quiet beauty of the ordinary.