Boerderijen in Ede 1893 - 1897

Willem Witsen drew 'Farms in Ede' with a pencil on paper. Witsen, born in 1860 into an affluent family, offers us a glimpse into the Dutch countryside. His privileged background allowed him to portray the rural landscape without the direct economic pressures experienced by those who toiled upon it. The sketch captures the essence of agrarian life in the Netherlands, a life deeply intertwined with the land and its seasons. While Witsen himself was not a farmer, this sketch prompts us to reflect on the lives of those who were, and the labor inherent to their daily existence. Although this work may seem like a simple landscape, I can't help but think about what it means to depict the lives of others without fully sharing their experiences. What do you feel as you gaze upon this drawing?