Bomen c. 1891

Egbert Rubertus Derk Schaap made this sketch of trees in pencil on paper, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century. During this period, landscape art in the Netherlands was often associated with national identity and the conservation of nature. While this is a simple sketch, it reflects the artistic conventions of the time. The trees are rendered with attention to their natural forms, and Schaap’s choice of subject matter aligns with the broader cultural interest in the Dutch landscape. We can consider how institutions, such as art academies and societies, influenced Schaap's artistic training and choices. Did he intend for this sketch to be a finished work, or was it a study for a larger painting? Studying Schaap's life and the artistic circles he moved in would give us further insight into the role of this sketch within his broader artistic practice. By researching the artist and the cultural context, we can better understand the social conditions that shaped artistic production in the Netherlands during this period.