Landweg met berken c. 1887 - 1888

Willem Witsen made this sketch of a landscape with birches using graphite on paper. Witsen belonged to a group of Dutch artists called the Amsterdam Impressionists. This movement was interested in capturing fleeting moments and atmospheric conditions. The loose, rapid strokes of the graphite create a sense of immediacy, as if Witsen were trying to capture the essence of the landscape in a brief moment. We might consider how Witsen’s privileged background allowed him the freedom to explore such subjective experiences of nature. As a member of a wealthy family, Witsen did not need to work for a living, so he could dedicate himself to his artistic pursuits. The sketch aesthetic invites us to contemplate our own relationship with the natural world. As we gaze upon this landscape, we might reflect on the social and economic structures that shape our perceptions and interactions with nature.