Aardappeloogst c. 1886

This evocative sketch of a potato harvest was made by Willem Witsen using charcoal on paper. The choice of charcoal, a humble material made from burned organic matter, is significant. It lends itself to the quick capturing of light and shadow, and here it helps express the back-breaking labor of these two figures in the field. The texture of the charcoal on the rough paper gives the image a gritty quality, mirroring the harsh realities of rural life. There is an immediacy to the work, as if Witsen quickly captured the scene while passing by. Yet the very act of drawing transforms the scene into something more: a comment on labor, class, and the relationship between people and the land. By using such a raw and direct medium, Witsen elevates the everyday toil of agricultural workers, reminding us of the human effort behind our sustenance. It's a reminder that even the simplest materials, when wielded with skill and vision, can speak volumes about the world around us.