Boerenschuur 1844 - 1909

Sientje Mesdag-van Houten made this small watercolor painting, depicting a farmhouse, using ink and brush on paper. The earthy tones and fluid brushstrokes suggest the textures of the rural scene. The quick, confident marks capture the thatched roof and rough-hewn structure of the barn. The artist's choices of materials influence the appearance of the artwork, its inherent qualities of substance, texture, weight, color, and form. Watercolor is an accessible and immediate medium, well-suited to plein air painting, and allowed her to quickly capture a fleeting moment in the Dutch countryside. Mesdag-van Houten’s artistic practice reflects her social context. As a woman artist in the 19th century, she often focused on domestic scenes and landscapes, subjects considered appropriate for women artists at the time. The apparent simplicity belies the skill required to create this evocative image, blurring the lines between fine art and the everyday experience.