Studie, mogelijk van een heuvellandschap c. 1882 - 1884

Willem Witsen made this study, possibly of a hilly landscape, with a pencil on paper. Witsen was part of a group of Dutch artists at the turn of the 20th century whose work often captured the quiet intimacy of the Dutch landscape. This sketch, though seemingly simple, hints at broader shifts in artistic values. In a rapidly industrializing world, artists like Witsen turned away from grand historical narratives towards more personal and immediate experiences of nature. Consider too the institutional context: the Rijksmuseum itself, a relatively new institution at the time, played a role in shaping artistic taste and national identity. Witsen's landscapes, displayed within its walls, contributed to a shared sense of Dutch identity rooted in the land. To truly understand this work, we might delve into the archives of the Rijksmuseum, explore exhibition catalogues, and read the writings of Witsen and his contemporaries. Only then can we fully appreciate the social and institutional forces that shaped this seemingly simple sketch.