Dorpssmid (Bram) voor het raam 1906 - 1907

This sketch of a village smithy by Willem Witsen is made with graphite on paper and is full of movement. I love to imagine Witsen standing there, quickly capturing the scene before him. You can almost feel the heat of the forge and the rhythmic clang of the hammer. Notice how the diagonal lines create a sense of depth, pulling you into the blacksmith's world. The sketchy lines almost vibrate with energy, conveying not just what the scene looked like but also the feeling of being there. I find myself wondering, was Witsen thinking of Daumier when he made this? Or maybe he was just focused on capturing the immediacy of the moment? Either way, it's a reminder that art is a conversation across time, with artists constantly building upon and responding to what came before. It’s so exciting to see how one artist inspires another, and how these connections enrich our understanding of art.