Landschap met bebouwing, gezien door een raam Possibly 1906 - 1909

Willem Witsen created this drawing, "Landscape with Buildings, Seen Through a Window" with graphite on paper. The drawing presents an abstracted view of a landscape, mediated by the geometric structure of a window frame. The composition divides the scene into clearly defined sections, where the window acts as a grid, segmenting the view. Witsen employs a stark contrast between the rigid lines of the window and the more organic, flowing lines of the landscape beyond. This contrast can be interpreted as a study in opposition. He uses the window as a device, contrasting man-made structures with the fluidity of nature. Furthermore, the drawing challenges traditional perspective, flattening the landscape and emphasizing the surface quality of the paper. This technique pushes the viewer to consider the drawing not just as a representation of space, but as an object in itself. The window frame becomes more than a boundary; it is an active element in the composition, prompting a reevaluation of how we perceive and frame our world.