Man met opgeheven bijl c. 1884 - 1887

Willem Witsen made this pencil drawing, Man with Raised Axe, sometime between 1880 and 1923. It's now held in the Rijksmuseum. Consider the social context of the Netherlands during Witsen's life. Rapid industrialization brought about new class tensions. Images of laborers, like this one, reflect an increasing awareness of the working class. What is the man about to do? The raised axe suggests impending action, perhaps of a violent nature. The sketch, with its raw, unfinished quality, may reflect a sense of urgency or social critique. To fully understand this work, we might delve into the history of labor movements in the Netherlands, as well as the artistic conventions of the time. Was Witsen sympathetic to the plight of workers or critical of potential unrest? By examining the social and institutional context, we gain a richer understanding of this seemingly simple sketch.