Winterlandschap met gebouwen 1893 - 1897

Willem Witsen made this winter landscape with buildings using charcoal on paper. It's a quick sketch, made with very simple means. The artist is using the charcoal almost like a writing tool. The inherent qualities of charcoal are crucial here; its blackness against the white paper, the soft texture of the strokes. You can see the artist smudging areas of the drawing. The marks are very direct, capturing a feeling of the scene. Witsen's technique belongs to a longer history of drawing as a preliminary process in artmaking, yet it also asserts its own aesthetic value as a quick, immediate form of expression. The drawing is made with very little labor, yet it speaks volumes about the artist's perception and skill. Considering the materials, making, and context reveals the inherent value and significance of the artwork, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.