Bomen 1848 - 1888

“Bomen,” or “Trees,” was made by Anton Mauve in the late 19th century. Mauve was a leading artist in the Hague School, a movement which strove to move away from idealized depictions of the world towards representing the common, lived experience. Although this drawing is simple, it reflects shifting social attitudes towards nature. Industrialization brought with it a romanticizing of the natural world. The trees in the image appear as dark, roughly sketched forms, suggesting a melancholy mood that reflects a longing for a simpler way of life. The quick, impressionistic style in this sketch also suggests an immediacy and authenticity. Mauve sought to capture the essence of the landscape through direct observation, embracing a more personal and subjective interpretation of the world around him. We are invited to find beauty in the ordinary and consider the emotional impact of our rapidly changing world.