Gezicht op Nova Zembla 1880

Louis Apol made this sketch of Nova Zembla, likely during the late 19th century, a period of renewed Dutch interest in Arctic exploration. The Rijksmuseum, as a key national institution, plays a role in shaping our understanding of Dutch identity and its relationship to the wider world. This sketch presents a vision of the Arctic landscape that is stark and imposing. The cultural context of the late 19th century saw an increasing awareness of the fragility of the natural world, and Dutch artists participated in a broader European movement to document remote regions. Apol was renowned for his winter landscapes and depictions of snowy conditions. The formal simplicity of the drawing invites us to consider the relationship between art and scientific exploration. It is through close attention to the historical record that the meaning of art becomes clear.