Aardappelrooiers c. 1887

Willem Witsen made this drawing, “Aardappelrooiers”, using graphite on paper. Witsen came of age as an artist in a period defined by rapid industrialization and urbanization. Amidst these societal shifts, he chose to depict the rural life of potato farmers. In this tender image of labor, two men are bent over, engaged in the arduous task of harvesting potatoes. Note the heavy clothing and wooden shoes, which speak to the physical demands and class status of these workers. By focusing on the potato harvest, Witsen directs our attention to the realities of agricultural labor, in contrast to the romanticized versions often presented in art. The loose lines of the graphite capture a sense of the physical strain involved in such work, but there is also a quiet dignity in the figures' postures. This drawing invites us to consider the human cost of progress and to reflect on the value of labor.