Schetsboek met 25 bladen 1893 - 1897

Editor: So, here we have "Sketchbook with 25 sheets" by Willem Witsen, made between 1893 and 1897. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It appears to be a collection of drawings, possibly with watercolor, on paper. I'm struck by the book's aged, almost weathered quality. How does this object speak to you? Curator: I'm interested in how this sketchbook operates as a space of possibility and resistance. A private space where Witsen could freely explore and document the world around him. Sketchbooks, especially during periods of rapid social change, could be sites for questioning dominant narratives and expressing marginalized perspectives. Editor: Marginalized perspectives? How so? Curator: Consider the Dutch Golden Age revival in the late 19th century and its association with nationalism. This sketchbook might be a counter-narrative to that, an intimate view that is not propagandistic or idealizing. It likely offers glimpses into the everyday lives and landscapes outside of the formal, often patriarchal, structures of the time. Do you get that sense? Editor: I do, especially given the sketchbook’s intimate nature. Were sketchbooks like this used as tools to reflect social change? Curator: Absolutely. They offered a portable, personal space for artists to engage with emerging social and political consciousness. Artists could depict the impact of industrialization on the environment or reflect the growing voices of women and workers in society. Looking at it now, how do you imagine Witsen may have used this sketchbook to engage with, or perhaps resist, the status quo? Editor: I see it as a document of a very personal vision of Dutch society at the time, revealing an evolving environment through his own interpretation. Curator: Precisely! It's this ability to reveal subtle yet crucial facets of daily life that makes this work an invaluable social commentary.