Gezicht op de molen Rijn en Lek te Wijk bij Duurstede Possibly 1906 - 1909

Here's a drawing of a mill at Wijk bij Duurstede, by Willem Witsen. It’s made with a kind of frenetic, energetic application of graphite, or maybe charcoal, on paper. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving quickly, trying to capture the essence of the scene before the light changes or the moment passes. I can imagine Witsen standing there, squinting his eyes, pencil in hand, trying to make sense of all these forms. It's not just about representing the mill, but also about feeling the texture of the wood, the weight of the stone, and the way the light hits the sails. The smudges, the shaky lines, the erasures – they all tell a story of the artist's struggle to bring the image into being. Looking at this work, I’m reminded of other artists who have grappled with similar subjects, like Van Gogh's drawings of rural landscapes. It's all part of this ongoing conversation, where artists learn from each other, challenge each other, and push the boundaries of what painting can be. It’s a kind of embodied expression, embracing ambiguity and uncertainty, and allowing for multiple interpretations.