Landschap met bebouwing c. 1886

This is a preliminary sketch of a landscape by Willem Witsen, a prominent Dutch painter and draughtsman of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The quick, gestural lines in graphite create a sense of immediacy and capture a fleeting moment of observation. Witsen’s landscapes often feature rural scenes, and this sketch, likely created around 1886, might be a preparation for a more finished work. The composition focuses on a small building, possibly a farmhouse, seen from a distance, suggesting a vastness of the surrounding landscape. This sketch offers a glimpse into Witsen’s artistic process and highlights the power of his simple, expressive lines.