Compositie voor De Molenaar 1870 - 1923

Willem Witsen made this drawing, Compositie voor De Molenaar, with graphite. Witsen was an Amsterdam Impressionist, and as such was interested in the life and labour of those around him. He lived in a time of great social change in the Netherlands. As industrialization progressed, the traditional roles and representations of the working class were questioned. In this study of a miller, Witsen captures a sense of quiet labor. The man is alone with his work, his face cast in shadow, hinting at the anonymity and hardship of the working class. The loose sketch emphasizes his physical form, grounding the man in the reality of physical labor. Is Witsen glorifying the working class or just trying to document their existence? Ultimately, the drawing invites us to consider the individual within the larger context of societal change. It presents a moment of reflection on the value and dignity of labor, something we can all relate to.