Gezicht op een boerderij c. 1882 - 1884

Willem Witsen created this small etching called 'View of a Farmhouse'. It captures a rustic scene dominated by a simple house under a clouded sky. The farmhouse itself appears as an archetype that reaches back through art history. We see these humble dwellings in the works of the old masters like Rembrandt, symbols of rural life and simplicity. Smoke rises from its chimney, a universal sign of domesticity and warmth, evoking a sense of hearth and home that transcends time. Consider how the meaning of 'home' persists through ages, from ancient Roman villas depicted in frescoes to modern suburban houses in advertising. Each era reshapes this symbol to mirror its values and aspirations. In Witsen's rendering, the farmhouse carries a weight of nostalgia, perhaps even a yearning for a simpler, more grounded existence in a rapidly industrializing world. This image touches us on a subconscious level, tapping into a collective memory of what 'home' represents.