Annotatie c. 1887 - 1888

Editor: So, this is "Annotatie" by Willem Witsen, dating from around 1887-1888. It’s ink on paper, from his sketchbook, and honestly, it feels so simple. Almost just...raw materiality. What do you see in this piece beyond that first impression? Curator: Beyond the visual simplicity, consider the material reality of the sketchbook itself. This isn’t just a drawing, it’s a glimpse into Witsen’s artistic process, his daily labor. How does the use of ink on paper, common materials, democratize art making here? Editor: That’s interesting. I hadn’t thought about it in terms of democratizing art. I guess I saw it as just... practice. Does the sketchbook format challenge the established idea of a ‘finished’ artwork destined for a gallery? Curator: Exactly! The sketchbook resists the pressure of turning artistic labour into a commodity. It shows art as an evolving, almost mundane, process, right? What does it say about the status of the artwork when we consider its origin not as a precious object, but from common, everyday material used for a more workaday pursuit? Editor: I see what you mean. It almost levels the playing field, between the artist and... well, anyone with paper and ink. I’d never thought about how the materials themselves can make a statement about access and production. Curator: Consider too the accessibility of Impressionism as a movement, with its interest in capturing everyday life, versus more historically inaccessible art, that required elaborate patronage or specialized artisanal processes. Editor: It gives you a very different view, looking at it that way. Thank you. I'll definitely consider the material and production more when looking at artworks in the future. Curator: And I'll keep an eye out for what we find inscribed by hand - and with whose hand.