Abklatsch van de krijttekening op pagina 38 c. 1886

This faint image on paper is a transfer drawing by Willem Witsen. It sits within a rich cultural context of late 19th-century Dutch art. During this period, The Netherlands witnessed a growing interest in capturing everyday life and the surrounding environment. This interest was influenced by the Hague School, a group of artists who sought to depict Dutch landscapes and scenes with realism and atmospheric perspective. Consider the institutional history of the Rijksmuseum itself. Founded in 1800, it played a crucial role in shaping the artistic taste and national identity of the Netherlands. Witsen's work, archived here, reflects this cultural milieu, perhaps hinting at the social conditions of artistic production at the time. To fully appreciate its significance, one might delve into archival materials, exhibition catalogues, and critical reviews from that time, examining the interplay between art, society, and national identity.