Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 9 c. 1886

This is a transfer of a chalk drawing by Willem Witsen, made sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Chalk is a humble material, easily accessible, and immediate in its application. You can see that immediacy here in the textured surface of the drawing, a kind of granular deposit on the page. But notice the word “transfer” in the title. This isn’t the original drawing; it’s a copy, made by pressing the original against another sheet of paper. The process mirrors the industrial methods gaining traction at the time. Although done by hand, the technique creates a kind of reproductive labor. This “Abklatsch,” or transfer, invites us to consider the value we place on originality versus reproduction. Consider the cultural context: the rise of mechanical reproduction was challenging traditional notions of artistic skill. This work blurs the line between unique creation and mass production, questioning the role of the artist in a changing world. By focusing on the process, Witsen prompts us to reassess the meaning we find in both art and labor.