Schetsboek met 13 bladen c. 1897 - 1900

This is Willem Witsen's sketchbook with 13 leaves, currently held in the Rijksmuseum. Witsen was part of the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, which was very much rooted in its specific time and place. From the late 19th century, artists started to move away from the rigid rules of the established art world. The Rijksmuseum, itself an institution with a history, plays a significant role in how we view art. It collects and presents art in a certain way, which affects how we understand the art and the artist. The sketchbook as a medium can tell us a lot about Witsen’s process, but the museum setting influences how we see it. To fully understand Witsen's work, and the social conditions that shaped it, we need to delve into the archives, read the art criticism of his time, and understand the institutions that supported and displayed his work.