Boerin met schoffel c. 1884 - 1887

Willem Witsen created this drawing, Boerin met schoffel, with pencil on paper. Here, a peasant woman bends to her work, wielding a tool that speaks of the unending cycle of labor and the earth’s bounty. The shovel, a simple instrument, resonates with centuries of human interaction with the soil, from ancient agricultural practices to modern farming. This very posture can be seen echoed in images of classical antiquity: think of Atlas bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders, or the stooped figures in Millet’s paintings. The bending posture, shoulders hunched over, carries both physical and emotional weight. It reappears across time, capturing the fatigue and burden of the working class. We are reminded of the relentless grind of existence. The emotional depth is palpable; it’s as though the drawing has captured not just an image, but a primal connection to the soil that engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level. This image, drawn from life, transcends its immediate context. The motifs resurface, evolving and taking on new meanings as they’re passed down through history.