Studieblad met koeien 1901 - 1907

Here's a sketch of some cows by Willem Witsen. I imagine Willem out in the field, quickly trying to capture the essence of these animals with charcoal or graphite. Look at how the lines vary in pressure and direction. There's a real economy of means, a kind of visual shorthand. You know, you can almost feel him circling the forms, trying to get a handle on the cow-ness of the cows. There's a long tradition of artists sketching animals – Durer’s hare comes to mind. These studies aren't just about recording what's there. They’re about understanding form, light, and how to translate a three-dimensional being onto a flat surface. Each artist builds on the work of those who came before, learning from their successes and failures. And in the end, they bring their own unique perspective to the age-old challenge of seeing and representing the world.