Annotaties 1901 - 1907

This notebook page of annotations was made by Willem Witsen around the turn of the 20th century. The annotations are intriguing; a collection of words paired with numerical notations. The orderly arrangement suggests a deliberate intention, perhaps a system of cataloging or inventory. The symbols and patterns we see here—the lists of items and the numerical additions—resonate with the human quest to impose order on the world. They are reminiscent of the early forms of writing and accounting that emerged in ancient civilizations. The simple act of counting and recording echoes the rituals of commerce and governance that have shaped our societies. Even these notations tap into a deeper emotional stratum—the need to control the chaos, to give meaning to existence through the act of writing. As we engage with this work, we find ourselves drawn into a web of associations, connecting the simple notes of the past with our own impulse to document and interpret the world.