Liggende schapen c. 1884 - 1887

Editor: This is Willem Witsen's "Liggende Schapen," or "Lying Sheep," a charcoal drawing from around 1884 to 1887, currently residing in the Rijksmuseum. It has such a fleeting quality, like a memory of a dream. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, Witsen! He captures a moment suspended in time. What I see is an intimacy, almost voyeuristic, with these gentle creatures. The charcoal creates a smoky atmosphere; it's as though we’re observing them through a hazy window. What do you make of his loose, almost unfinished strokes? Editor: I think the loose strokes give it that sense of immediacy. It’s like he quickly sketched them before they moved, but they feel very vulnerable, lying so low on the horizon. I'm wondering, how does it connect to the Realism movement? Curator: Excellent question! Realism focused on depicting everyday subjects and observed truthfully. Witsen wasn't romanticizing the sheep, nor was he creating some grand narrative. He shows them simply as they are, present in the quiet Dutch landscape. Isn’t it interesting how a seemingly simple subject can carry such emotional weight? Does it bring to mind anything particular to you? Editor: It makes me think about quiet mornings on my grandparents’ farm; there is such an intimate quality. Thank you. Curator: It’s amazing how art allows us to connect through shared observations and personal narratives, isn't it? And seeing those sheep—well, it just feels a little like coming home.