Drie studies van een geknielde boer in een landschap c. 1884 - 1887

This pencil drawing by Willem Witsen, titled "Drie studies van een geknielde boer in een landschap" ("Three studies of a kneeling farmer in a landscape"), features three sketches of a farmer working in the field. Created between 1884 and 1887, this piece exemplifies Witsen's interest in capturing the lives of ordinary people, particularly those engaged in rural labor. The loose, gestural lines of the sketches suggest a sense of movement and spontaneity, hinting at the artist's direct observation of his subject. Currently housed at the Rijksmuseum, this work showcases the development of Witsen's artistic style and his focus on social realism, a movement that aimed to portray the realities of everyday life.