Wilgen aan het water, daarachter kasteel De Cannenburgh 1870 - 1931

Willem Bastiaan Tholen created this etching of willows by the water, with Cannenburgh Castle in the background. Tholen, born in Amsterdam, emerged during a time of significant social and artistic transition in the Netherlands. This piece reflects the changing cultural landscape in which artists began to turn away from grand, historical themes in favor of intimate, personal observations of nature. It suggests a shift in the collective consciousness towards valuing the quiet beauty of the everyday. Tholen’s choice to depict a common scene invites us to consider the democratization of art. As you reflect on this image, consider how Tholen's work invited viewers to find beauty and value in their immediate surroundings.