Figuren op een bomenlaan te Reeuwijk Possibly 1866 - 1929

Willem Cornelis Rip created this pencil sketch of figures on a tree-lined avenue in Reeuwijk, Netherlands. Rip was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands in 1856, and the sketch reflects the Dutch landscape tradition of the 19th century. The location, Reeuwijk, near Gouda, in the province of South Holland, provides insight. This was an area of significant peat extraction. The small figures hint at the growth of leisure and tourism in the late 19th century, perhaps indicating the social changes brought about by industrialization and urbanization, with a growing middle class seeking respite in rural settings. Understanding Rip’s art requires delving into the social and economic history of the Netherlands during this period. Art historical archives, local historical societies, and museum collections provide more information about the context in which Rip and his contemporaries worked. These resources enable us to understand the shifting relationship between nature, society, and art in the late 19th century Netherlands.