Landschap met roeiboot en hengelaar 1831 - 1904

Arnoud Schaepkens created this etching of a landscape with a rowboat and fisherman in the nineteenth century. The rise of landscape art coincided with major social and economic changes in the Netherlands. The Dutch Golden Age saw a burgeoning merchant class seeking to express its cultural identity through art. Artists like Schaepkens captured the unique features of the Dutch landscape, emphasizing its flatness, waterways, and expansive skies. In this historical context, landscape art served as a form of national pride and cultural expression. Institutions like the Pulchri Studio played a crucial role in shaping artistic tastes and providing exhibition spaces for artists. As art historians, we rely on archival materials, exhibition catalogs, and period criticism to understand the social and institutional context. By studying the art of the Netherlands, we gain insights into the cultural values and social dynamics of the time.