Vrouw met drie kinderen c. 1910 - 1915

Willem Witsen made this charcoal drawing, 'Woman with Three Children', on paper in the Netherlands, around the turn of the 20th century. Witsen belonged to a group of Dutch artists known as the Amsterdam Impressionists. They embraced the aesthetic of French Impressionism, but focused on distinctly Dutch subjects, such as cityscapes and scenes of everyday life. Witsen, who came from a wealthy family, often depicted more intimate, domestic scenes. Here, Witsen shows us a mother tending to her children. The sketch-like quality gives it an informal, almost snapshot-like feel. In a time of rapid industrialization, artists like Witsen found beauty and value in the quiet moments of domestic life. It can be argued that the attention to the domestic sphere was a reaction against the fast-paced changes happening in society more broadly. Understanding this drawing requires us to consider the cultural values of the time. Art historical research into the artist's life and the social context in which he worked helps to illuminate the meaning of this intimate portrayal.