Liggende schapen en een schaapskop c. 1884 - 1887

Willem Witsen drew Liggende schapen en een schaapskop with graphite on paper sometime before 1923. It's now housed in the Rijksmuseum. Witsen was a Dutch artist associated with the Amsterdam Impressionism movement. This sketch gives us an insight into the artistic training of the time. In the 19th century, academic art institutions emphasized the importance of studying animals as a foundation for depicting human figures and understanding anatomy. The practice of sketching animals, especially livestock, reflected the agricultural context of the Netherlands. Beyond its immediate subject, this work reflects the institutional and social values of its time. It reminds us that art is not created in a vacuum. By examining artists' notebooks, exhibition records, and period reviews, we can better understand the relationship between artistic production and the broader culture.