Boer met een zeis en een vrouwenhoofd c. 1884 - 1887

This drawing by Willem Witsen, titled 'Boer met een zeis en een vrouwenhoofd', presents a study in contrasts and spatial relationships. Executed in pencil, the work captures two distinct figures on a single plane. The textural qualities of the pencil strokes give the figures solidity, set against the blank page that suggests depth. The composition divides the visual field, inviting a semiotic reading. Above, a woman's head is rendered with soft lines and gentle shading. Below, a farmer wielding a scythe is depicted with more angular strokes, suggesting movement. These contrasting forms—the static and the dynamic—prompt us to consider the interplay between labor and contemplation. Witsen’s formal arrangement poses a challenge to fixed meanings. The juxtaposition of figures destabilizes any singular narrative, suggesting instead a multiplicity of interpretations about Dutch rural life. This ambiguity serves not just as an aesthetic choice, but also as a profound commentary on the complexities inherent in representing cultural identity.