Bomen bij de plantage 1874 - 1879

Johannes Tavenraat made this pencil drawing, titled 'Trees near the Plantation,' during the 19th century in the Netherlands. During this period, the Dutch art world experienced a revival, with artists turning to their native landscapes for inspiration. The term 'plantation' in the title might initially suggest colonial contexts, but in the Netherlands, it often referred to cultivated woodlands or tree nurseries. This sketch, with its focus on the serene and orderly arrangement of trees, reflects the Dutch appreciation for nature and landscape. We can ask, what was the role of landscape art in shaping Dutch national identity? Did the rising middle class find solace and pride in depictions of their carefully managed environment? To explore these questions further, archival documents, such as records from local horticultural societies and estate inventories, would reveal the social and economic values attached to such cultivated landscapes during Tavenraat's time.