Gezicht op een cairn te Nova Zembla, mogelijk in de Kruisbaai 1880

Louis Apol made this drawing of a cairn in Nova Zembla with pen in the late 19th century. It is a quick sketch, but it speaks volumes about Dutch cultural history. In the late 19th century, there was renewed interest in stories about Dutch explorers who had charted the Arctic. This sketch depicts a cairn, a stone landmark, which would have been understood as a testament to the explorer's ingenuity in the face of a brutal landscape. Apol was known for his winter scenes, and his works are often tied to Dutch national identity and pride in the face of harsh conditions. It's interesting to note that the Rijksmuseum—where this drawing resides—was founded in 1800 to house a collection of Dutch art that would teach national values. Art history is not just about aesthetics; it's about understanding the social, cultural, and institutional contexts in which art is made and displayed. By researching Dutch history, 19th-century art, and the history of the Rijksmuseum, we can understand this unassuming sketch in a new light.