Schets van moeder met kinderen 1870 - 1923

Willem Witsen made this sketch of a mother with children with graphite on paper. The softness of the graphite allows for a range of delicate marks, capturing the tender moment between mother and child. The texture of the paper, slightly rough, adds depth to the drawing, emphasizing the artist’s hand. It's a quick study of the mother's features, her dress and hair, and the children sitting beside her. There is a great contrast between the quick nature of the medium and the very slow rhythms of domestic life. It shows the artist's intent to capture a fleeting moment in time. The sketch is not highly finished but rather presents a raw, intimate glimpse into a domestic scene. Paying attention to materials and process helps us grasp the work's emotional weight and cultural significance. It is an image of care rendered in graphite, one of the most modest and unassuming of artistic media.