Boerderijen in Ede 1893 - 1897

Editor: This is Willem Witsen's "Boerderijen in Ede," sketched between 1893 and 1897. It's an ink drawing on paper, a rather quick sketch, I'd say, of farmhouses, maybe even in the snow? What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, it feels like peeking into Witsen's personal sketchbook. These rapid lines, almost a form of shorthand, convey more than just buildings. There’s a sense of place, a specific moment captured—perhaps a cold winter's day, just as you said. It’s less about perfect representation, and more about feeling. Does it make you think of other landscape sketches? Editor: It does have that 'on the go' feel to it! I guess the rough style highlights the core shape of those farms. A wintery geometric landscape! Curator: Exactly. Now, consider the period – the late 19th century. Artists were increasingly drawn to capturing fleeting moments and personal impressions. It's part Realism, part…something more intimate. It asks you: What's the *feeling* of being there? How does the starkness speak to you? Editor: It makes me wonder what Witsen felt that day. There is something fragile and exposed, but sturdy nonetheless. It does that! Curator: I agree. It’s like a visual haiku. What does it say about how artists found beauty in the mundane? I think sometimes the smallest works offer the biggest insights. It makes me wanna start my own sketchbook, even though I am a terrible sketcher. Editor: Definitely, I feel so too. It reminds us to observe beauty in ordinary life, not only perfect settings and landscapes. Curator: A reminder indeed. Beauty can be in a simple sketch, a fleeting feeling.