Landschap met water c. 1887 - 1888

Willem Witsen created this work, "Landschap met water," a landscape with water, using graphite on paper. The composition is dominated by a vertical cascade of rough, energetic lines that form the central structure. Dark, almost chaotic scribbles give way to softer, more suggestive shapes, creating a sense of depth. The stark contrast between the dense graphite and the bare paper generates an evocative tension, pulling the viewer into a space that feels both raw and deeply contemplative. Witsen uses the semiotic weight of simple marks to hint at natural forms. The interplay between presence and absence of detail encourages a reading of landscape beyond surface representation. The sketch destabilizes traditional landscape values, favoring instead a more subjective experience. The graphite acts as a signifier, pointing not just to what is seen but to how we see. Ultimately, this piece offers a way of seeing the world not as a fixed reality but as a dynamic and perpetually evolving visual experience.