Landschap met bomen 1893 - 1897

Willem Witsen created this landscape drawing with trees in the late 19th or early 20th century using graphite on paper. The choice of graphite lends itself to immediacy, as it’s a readily available and easily portable material. Notice how Witsen has used broad, gestural strokes to capture the essence of the trees and the surrounding landscape. The texture of the paper is visible, which adds depth to the drawing. This sketch suggests a desire to capture a fleeting moment in nature, perhaps en plein air, but it could also be a quick study done back in the studio as a preliminary exploration for a larger composition. The use of graphite, a common material in academic art training, ties into the history of fine arts. But it also speaks to the accessibility of art-making, blurring the lines between formal artistic practice and everyday sketching. Ultimately, this unassuming drawing reminds us that even simple materials can yield profound artistic expression, challenging conventional notions of what constitutes high art.