Twee aardappelrooisters c. 1886

Willem Witsen made this pencil drawing, "Two Potato Harvesters," sometime between 1880 and 1923. It is a sketch of rural labor. This image offers a glimpse into the working lives of ordinary people in the Netherlands. The style of this drawing reflects a broader European interest in Realism and Impressionism. These movements aimed to capture the everyday experiences and the effects of light and atmosphere. We can look at Dutch economic history to understand the conditions of agricultural labor at the time. How did industrialization affect rural communities? Were there social movements advocating for the rights of agricultural workers? By investigating these questions, we can gain a richer understanding of the drawing. The historian brings these kinds of questions to the museum. They understand the world of art as always embedded in social context.