Boeken c. 1860 - 1915

Willem Witsen made this photograph, titled Boeken, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. This striking portrait is a visual study in light and shadow. Beyond its aesthetic qualities, the image hints at the changing role of the artist in Dutch society at the time. Photography was still a relatively new medium, and its increasing accessibility was beginning to democratize portraiture. Rather than commissioning a painter, one could now capture an image with a camera. Witsen was part of a group of Dutch artists associated with the Amsterdam Impressionism movement. By turning his lens upon himself and his shadow, he creates not just a likeness, but an artistic statement. He seems to be exploring the relationship between the artist and his persona. As art historians, we can look at the photographic technology of the time, as well as the changing social status of artists, to understand the full implications of this photograph.