Schaapskudde bij een hek c. 1876 - 1888

This is a pencil drawing titled 'Schaapskudde bij een hek,' or 'Flock of Sheep by a Fence,' by Anton Mauve. Mauve, living from 1838 to 1888, situated himself in the Netherlands during a period of rapid urbanization and industrial transformation. Mauve was an important figure in the Hague School, a movement of artists who turned away from academic painting to embrace the simplicity of rural life. His work focuses on the pastoral scenes and landscapes that would have been in stark contrast to the societal shifts taking place at the time. Looking at the drawing, you can sense a feeling of nostalgia for the past. The soft lines and muted tones create a hazy atmosphere. It reflects a longing for an idyllic, rural existence that was quickly disappearing, and evokes a collective memory of a time perceived as simpler and more authentic. It invites us to reflect on the costs of progress, and perhaps consider the impact of our own era’s transformations.