Bebouwing, mogelijk te Diepenheim c. 1887 - 1888

Willem Witsen made this drawing, "Bebouwing, mogelijk te Diepenheim", with a black chalk on paper. Witsen belonged to a group of Dutch artists called the Amsterdam Impressionists, who, like their French counterparts, sought to capture fleeting moments and everyday life. But what does it mean to represent ‘everyday life’? Whose life is deemed worthy of representation and why? Witsen came from a wealthy family, providing him with the means to pursue art without financial worries. This privileged position undoubtedly shaped his perspective and the subjects he chose to depict. Notice how the house in the drawing seems both present and obscured. The dark, heavy lines create a sense of enclosure, perhaps reflecting the way social structures can simultaneously offer comfort and create barriers. The drawing invites us to consider the complexities of belonging and the ways in which our perceptions are shaped by our own positions within society.