Boer op het land, mogelijk zaaiend 1893 - 1897

Willem Witsen made this sketch, "Boer op het land, mogelijk zaaiend", which translates to "Farmer in the field, possibly sowing," likely in the late 19th or early 20th century. Witsen was part of the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, which focused on depicting everyday life. At this time, rapid industrialization caused a shift in demographics and societal values. Many artists turned their attention to the countryside, perhaps idealizing a simpler way of life that was under threat. This sketch seems to capture a quiet, reflective moment. The farmer, rendered in quick, gestural lines, is depicted in harmony with the land. What is the farmer thinking? Is he content, or is there a sense of unease about the future? Witsen doesn't tell us, but it is likely that he wanted to depict a peaceful moment in a time of great change.