Regent Park Near the Canal c. 1877

Hendrik Pieter Koekkoek made this graphite drawing, Regent Park Near the Canal, sometime in the mid-19th century. It shows a tree in a park. But what does it mean to represent nature within the context of a park? Parks themselves are cultural constructions, shaped and designed for public use and leisure. The very act of sketching this tree in Regent Park reflects the social and institutional frameworks that defined artistic practice at the time. Koekkoek, who was Dutch, would probably have been familiar with the Dutch landscape painting tradition. This tradition did not just represent nature but also contained complex ideas about national identity, ownership, and control of the land. His artworks reflect a broader European fascination with landscape as a marker of national pride and cultural identity. By considering the social and institutional contexts in which art is produced, we can develop a richer understanding of its cultural significance. We can use archival materials, exhibition records, and period writings to examine the relationship between the artist, his patrons, and the broader social milieu.