Schaapherder bij zijn kudde c. 1884 - 1887

This is a pencil sketch of a shepherd with his flock by Willem Witsen. We don't know exactly when it was made, but Witsen lived from 1860 to 1923. The drawing is created with graphite, one of the most direct and elemental of artistic media. The artist has captured a fleeting moment of the shepherd and his flock. The pencil lines vary in thickness and intensity, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. Notice the delicate shading used to render the figures and the surrounding landscape. The very act of sketching, with its immediacy and intimacy, allows us to connect with the artist's experience, and it brings into focus the labor of the shepherd. We can appreciate the skill and sensitivity required to capture this scene with such simplicity. This work invites us to consider the value of labor and the relationship between humans and the land.