Landschap met een grote boom in Rhenen Possibly 1878

Willem Witsen drew this landscape with a large tree in Rhenen using graphite on paper. The visible marks on the page reflect Witsen's rapid hand movements, building the image with layers of strokes to create the impression of depth, volume, and light. Graphite is a relatively simple material, but its capacity for tonal variation made it ideal for capturing the scene. The artist has used smudging to create soft shadows around the trunk of the tree, providing contrast with the sharply defined details of the leaves. The texture of the paper also plays a role, with its slight toothiness catching the graphite to produce subtle gradations of value. Graphite drawings have a long history, often used for preparatory sketches as well as finished works of art. They are portable, economical, and easy to produce, characteristics that have made them accessible to a broad range of artists and patrons. By focusing on the material qualities and processes, we gain insight into Witsen's artistic practice, and the social and economic factors that have influenced the production of art.