De kraai Ina c. 1887 - 1888

Willem Witsen created this painting of Ina the crow using paint on a wood panel. The choice of wood as a ground is significant; it lends a certain warmth and texture that canvas simply can't match. The brown, vertical grain of the wood shines through the applied layers of paint, particularly in the background. You can see how he's allowed the material to exert its own influence on the final image, rather than completely obscuring it. This approach is very different from the slick surfaces of academic painting. The image is reduced to the very minimum - a profile of the crow that is almost silhouetted. By embracing the inherent qualities of his materials, Witsen elevates what might have been a simple sketch into a meditation on the relationship between artist, subject, and the physical world. Appreciating the subtle dialogue between paint, wood, and representation allows us to reconsider how we value both fine art and craft.