Zittende schaapherder c. 1884 - 1887

This is Willem Witsen's sketch of a seated shepherd, currently residing in the Rijksmuseum. Witsen was a Dutch artist who lived through a time of significant social and economic change in the Netherlands, which saw shifts in class structures and rural life. In this sketch, the shepherd is captured in a moment of quiet repose, a figure deeply connected to the land. The sketch seems to be an intimate study of working-class identity. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a growing artistic interest in portraying rural life with an increased awareness of social issues and class differences. This approach often served to challenge or question traditional representations of labor and rural communities. The raw and immediate quality of the sketch invites us to consider our own relationship with work, leisure, and the natural world. The image is a quiet reflection on labor, identity, and place.