Artwork
Woman with the Basket or Potato Harvester
Woman with the Basket or Potato Harvester is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Willem Arnold Witsen. It dates from 1886 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Willem Arnold Witsen’s print, titled Woman with the Basket (also known as Potato Harvester), was produced in 1886 using etching and aquatint on laid paper. The work is part of the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and presents a solitary figure engaged in agricultural labor.
Subject & Meaning
The image shows a woman bent over a field, carrying a basket and wearing a dark dress, apron, and white shoes. Her hair is pulled back, and she is viewed from a low angle that emphasizes her activity. A distant church steeple punctuates the horizon, suggesting a rural setting where work and community coexist.
Technique & Style
Witsen combined traditional line etching with aquatint washes, allowing subtle tonal variations that convey the texture of soil, sky, and fabric. The laid paper surface contributes a faint grain that enhances the atmospheric quality, while the low perspective creates depth and a sense of immediacy.
History & Provenance
Created in the late nineteenth century, the print entered the National Gallery of Art’s holdings through acquisition (specific acquisition details are recorded in the museum’s catalogue). It remains an example of Witsen’s interest in everyday labor scenes during this period.
Artist & collection
![Oudezijds Achterburgwal, twee deuren in het midden [The Oudezijds Achterburgwal, with Two Doors in the Middle], by Willem Arnold Witsen](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/willem-arnold-witsen--oudezijds-achterburgwal-twee-deuren-in-het-midden-the-oudezi--fa3aac16ddc6d38d-w320.webp)
