Boer met een zeis op het land c. 1884 - 1887

Editor: Here we have Willem Witsen’s "Boer met een zeis op het land," or "Farmer with a scythe in the field," created sometime between 1884 and 1887. It appears to be a pencil and ink sketch. The light strokes give it a rather ephemeral, fleeting feeling. What catches your eye, Professor? Curator: Formally speaking, it is interesting how Witsen uses the toned paper as a sort of middle ground. Notice the figure isn't strongly delineated with dark lines. Rather, he employs hatching and cross-hatching to suggest form and depth. The quick, almost frantic lines in the background contrast with the more careful rendering of the farmer. Does that asymmetry strike you? Editor: Yes, it does. The contrast in line work creates a sense of movement and energy. It seems like the farmer is momentarily frozen within the dynamism of the field around him. Curator: Precisely. Observe how the scythe itself is almost an extension of the farmer's body, mirroring the angle of his torso. The composition leads the eye down along that diagonal. What feeling does the downward slope generate for you? Editor: Maybe a sense of the weight of the work? Or the unending nature of it? Curator: Possibly. Or it could signify the conclusion of labor, a yielding of the field. The lack of strong tonal contrast in the figure may also indicate his close tie to the field; he almost disappears within it. Editor: That’s fascinating; I hadn't considered how his integration into the environment affects the drawing’s meaning. The more you unpack it, the less simple it seems. Curator: Indeed. This unassuming sketch reveals itself upon careful observation, rewarding the viewer's focused attention to form and composition. I shall consider how such close looking changes my interpretations from now on.