Jonge vrouwen met een takkenbossen c. 1884 - 1887

Curator: Willem Witsen sketched these "Young Women with Bundles of Twigs" around 1884 to 1887. It’s now held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Immediately, I notice how faint the impression is, like a memory barely sketched on the page. It seems melancholic and a bit haunting with just these few suggestive lines. Curator: Yes, the immediacy of the pencil and graphite is central here. The impressionistic style employed isn’t just about capturing light; it reflects a shift towards portraying fleeting moments in modern life. The materials used show us the artist's rapid response to what he saw and experienced. The drawing captures figures in what looks like rural labor, reminding us of the contemporary class divisions. Editor: Those twigs suggest winter, or perhaps preparation for a fire. The bundled sticks form a kind of barrier. I wonder what these young women represent? Are they simply gatherers, or are they allegorical figures, connected to themes of perseverance or even sacrifice? Bundles are often a symbolic shorthand for community and collective effort, but I am not sure what that might indicate here. Curator: Given that these women appear anonymous, almost blending into the landscape through line and form, I see the process of making itself speaking volumes. There’s a raw simplicity that strips away traditional artistic adornment. We confront labor head-on, represented in minimal strokes on inexpensive paper. Editor: True. The symbolism becomes subtle. It forces one to reflect on labor in its basic form. Perhaps, the anonymity is a social commentary; how often do we truly acknowledge those performing such work, let alone think about what these bundles might be worth on a local market? The drawing really lets that sink in. Curator: The rapid and sketchy quality emphasizes the fleeting nature of labor and lived experience. Looking at Witsen's choice of such an ephemeral medium on such a mundane subject shifts our perspective. It transforms our perception and makes us examine labor not through myth, but through social materiality. Editor: I see the piece with newly opened eyes, now acknowledging a somber reminder. Its minimalist portrayal of labor provides fertile ground for contemplating our societal perspectives, urging us to think on the narratives underlying everyday lives. Curator: Agreed, this small work has a surprisingly expansive impact, prompting deeper engagement with labor's role in everyday realities.