Ruiter tussen twee bomen 1848 - 1888

Anton Mauve made this sketch, “Rider between two trees”, with pencil on paper sometime in the late 19th century. Mauve belonged to the Hague School, a group of Dutch landscape painters whose atmospheric work captured the rural life and light of the Netherlands. In this sketch, Mauve uses simple lines to suggest a figure on horseback, positioned between two trees. The scene evokes the Dutch countryside. Consider the social and economic conditions that shaped the art of this time. The Hague School artists were reacting against the industrialization of the Netherlands. They sought to preserve a vision of rural life that was quickly disappearing. Museums and galleries at this time played a crucial role in valorizing this national art. By studying archival materials and the writings of artists and critics, we can gain a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural significance of works like this one. Art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.