Landschap met twee figuren 1870 - 1923

Willem Witsen made this landscape with two figures in graphite sometime between 1870 and 1923. The artist was born in a wealthy family and was part of the cultural and artistic circles of the Netherlands. Witsen was part of a group called the Eighties Movement, that rejected academic traditions and embraced new forms of artistic expression. This sketch embodies some of the principles of this movement, like its attention to atmosphere and mood. He seems to explore new ways of representing the landscape, focusing less on the details. Witsen was also inspired by the Barbizon School in France and Japanese prints, which influenced his approach to composition and perspective. To understand more, explore historical archives, letters and exhibition catalogues from that time. The meaning of art lies in the socio-cultural context.