Besneeuwd boslandschap in Ede 1906

Willem Witsen made this etching of a snow-covered forest landscape in Ede, probably in the late 19th or early 20th century. The image feels calm, still, and observant. I can feel the cold air, the soft light, and the quiet, almost muffled sounds of the winter forest. It feels like I am walking in the snow among the trees. Witsen has captured the light and shadow on the snow, the texture of the bark on the trees, and the delicate branches reaching up into the sky. He knew what he was doing, making those marks. The image is not overly romantic or sentimental; it is a straightforward and honest depiction of nature. Etchings such as this remind me of those made by other artists of the time. Whistler, for instance, used a similar technique to capture the mood and atmosphere of the Thames in London. Ultimately, artists are in an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity.