Paarden c. 1887 - 1891

Editor: So, here we have "Paarden," or "Horses," a drawing made with graphite and charcoal on paper by Willem Witsen between 1887 and 1891. It's currently at the Rijksmuseum. There's a restless quality to it, the dark lines creating this feeling of movement, but also constraint. What's your take? Curator: Oh, that restless energy is spot on! To me, this isn't just about accurately depicting horses, it's about capturing the essence of animal spirit – that raw, untamed power. It’s almost like he's channeling something ancient, something primal through these animals. Does the loose sketching remind you of anyone? Degas, perhaps? Editor: A little bit! But there’s something about the density of the shading here that feels different. Curator: It does, doesn't it? It's dirtier, maybe. I like to think he was sketching these animals straight from the field, getting a little muddy himself. Witsen had a fascination with capturing fleeting moments – the changing light, the restless activity of city life... It makes you wonder what particular scene he witnessed that sparked this image. And think of the freedom a sketch offers over, say, a formal portrait! What does this freedom evoke in you? Editor: Definitely a sense of immediacy, a kind of unfiltered observation. Curator: Exactly! It's like we're peeking into Witsen's sketchbook. Almost feels a little invasive, doesn’t it? As if we are not supposed to see the bare bones, the artistic labour. Editor: Yeah, I never really considered the private nature of a sketch. I suppose I always looked at them as just studies, preparation for something grander. Curator: And maybe that is true, but here, perhaps, is the kernel of something unique. Perhaps, in capturing horses with those dark lines, it becomes timeless. Something real. Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way. Now I'm seeing it as more than just a preliminary sketch.