Landschap met bebouwing c. 1886

Willem Witsen sketched this landscape with buildings, using what appears to be pencil on paper. The basic shapes give a sense of the buildings' simple construction. Consider how such a depiction might echo the basic forms seen in early architectural drawings throughout history. Think of ancient Roman plans etched onto stone tablets, or even the first cave paintings depicting simple dwellings. These basic representations tap into our collective memory, triggering primal associations with shelter, community, and civilization. The emotional quality, though understated, speaks to the fundamental human need for a sense of belonging. The act of sketching these rudimentary structures may symbolically reflect an effort to establish order and make our mark on the world. This imagery is cyclical, reflecting the enduring human impulse to create spaces that define our existence, and to convey these ideas through minimal but meaningful visual forms.