Landschap in Nederlands-Indië Possibly 1920 - 1924

Willem Witsen drew "Landschap in Nederlands-Indië" with graphite on paper, and what strikes me is how he coaxes so many tones out of a seemingly limited palette. It's like he's feeling his way through the landscape, mark by mark. The layering of graphite gives the image a hazy, dreamlike quality. See how the mountains in the background almost dissolve into the sky? Then there's the foreground, where the foliage is rendered with a flurry of tiny, energetic strokes. It's not about botanical accuracy, but about capturing the feeling of abundance. Witsen really digs into the nitty-gritty of looking and drawing here. It reminds me a bit of Corot's landscapes, that same interest in atmosphere and light. Both artists invite us to slow down, to really see the world around us, and to appreciate the messy, imperfect beauty of it all.