Ploegende paarden 1848 - 1888

Anton Mauve made this drawing, "Ploegende paarden," with a pencil. The drawing presents a landscape rendered with sparse lines and muted tones, creating a sense of quietness. The horizon line is set at a high level, which dominates the composition with a vast expanse of open space. Mauve's work here is evocative rather than descriptive. The lines are more suggestive of form rather than definitive. This emphasis on suggestion rather than explicit representation reflects the changing artistic values of the time, where the sensation and experience began to take precedence. The looseness allows for multiple interpretations and invites the viewer to participate in completing the image. Look closely at the subtle variations in the pencil strokes. They function as a kind of code, which collectively conveys an atmosphere more than a literal scene. In doing so, this drawing encourages an active viewing, destabilizing the traditional notion of art as a passive reflection of reality.