Schaapherder die op zijn staf leunt c. 1884 - 1887

This is Willem Witsen’s sketch of a shepherd leaning on his staff, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The drawing presents a study in tonal variation, employing the stark contrast between the paper's untouched brightness and the charcoal's intense darkness. Note the form of the shepherd, constructed through a series of quick, decisive lines. The absence of color directs our attention to the structural elements: the strong vertical of the staff, the curved shape suggesting the figure's posture, and the geometric masses indicating the flock. These are rendered not as solid forms, but as suggestions, implying a sense of movement and the transience of the scene. Witsen masterfully uses negative space to define the shepherd’s form and to create a sense of depth. The overall composition challenges our perception by disrupting conventional expectations of form and representation. This artwork is not merely a depiction, but an exploration of seeing itself.