Abklatsch van de krijttekening op blad 7 recto c. 1915 - 1921

Willem Witsen made this "Abklatsch van de krijttekening op blad 7 recto" – or, roughly translated, "rubbing of a chalk drawing on page 7" – using an unknown medium on paper. The ghostly image gives us a peek into Witsen's process. You can almost feel the pressure he applied to transfer the chalk, leaving behind this delicate trace. Look closely, and you'll see the subtle variations in tone, like whispers of the original drawing. It's as if the paper itself holds a memory of the artist's hand. The beauty of this piece lies in its simplicity and its mystery. It reminds me of Cy Twombly's works on paper, where the act of mark-making becomes a dance between intention and chance. It celebrates the ephemeral quality of art. It’s about the act of making. There are many interpretations of its meaning. Ultimately, the experience of viewing art is subjective and personal.