Geknielde aardappelrooister c. 1884 - 1887

"Geknielde aardappelrooister" (Kneeling Potato Picker) is a drawing by Willem Witsen, created between 1884 and 1887 and currently housed at the Rijksmuseum. Witsen, a Dutch artist known for his realism and depictions of working-class life, captures a moment of labor in this work. The drawing, rendered in graphite on paper, shows a woman bent over, picking potatoes from the ground. Her figure is rendered in a gestural, almost impressionistic style, highlighting the physicality of the labor. This work exemplifies Witsen's interest in portraying the lives of ordinary people and their struggles.