Staande vrouw grijpt een boomtak 1870 - 1923

Willem Witsen captured this image of a woman grasping a tree branch with a graphite pencil on paper. Witsen came from a wealthy family. He was deeply engaged in the cultural and artistic circles of his time. The drawing depicts a woman in what appears to be traditional Dutch clothing, set against a blurred background of trees and foliage. Consider the role of women in rural Dutch society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The woman’s labor is intertwined with the natural world. Does this image serve to romanticize rural life, or does it suggest a more complex relationship between the woman, her work, and the landscape? It is interesting to question how Witsen’s privileged background might have shaped his perception and portrayal of this woman. This drawing offers a glimpse into a specific time and place, but also prompts broader questions about labor, gender, and the relationship between humans and nature.