Bosgezicht in Beekhuizen, Velp 1878

Willem Witsen sketched "Bosgezicht in Beekhuizen, Velp" with black chalk, capturing a view of the woods. Witsen belonged to a generation of Dutch artists who, in the late 19th century, sought to represent the beauty and quietness of the Dutch landscape, influenced by the social and political climate of a rapidly industrializing Europe. This sketch might be seen as a retreat into nature, a space traditionally associated with escape from the pressures of urban life. What I find compelling is how Witsen uses the starkness of black chalk to convey the depth and texture of the woods. You can almost feel the cool, damp air of the forest. Witsen’s choice of subject and medium feels particularly poignant when considered against the backdrop of his privileged background and social circle, and the stark realities of class difference. His art invites a quiet contemplation, a kind of solitary communion with nature that transcends social constraints.