Farmhouses 1825 - 1891

Editor: So, this watercolor and pencil drawing is called "Farmhouses," created sometime between 1825 and 1891 by Johannes Bosboom. It feels very quiet and still. I’m curious, what do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: I see more than just a peaceful landscape. Bosboom, while seemingly depicting a simple rural scene, is subtly engaging with complex societal shifts of his time. Think about the rapid urbanization happening in the Netherlands during the 19th century. Doesn't this image read as a deliberate, perhaps even political, choice to highlight a disappearing way of life? Editor: That's interesting! I hadn't thought of it that way. I was just seeing a quaint landscape. But if it’s realism, is Bosboom making a commentary on what is real versus what is lost? Curator: Precisely! The choice of watercolor, with its inherent fragility and translucence, almost emphasizes the fleeting nature of this rural existence. Consider also how the Golden Age heavily influenced the landscape genre. We are faced with questioning; who truly benefitted from that Golden Age, and who did not? Editor: It makes me wonder about the lives of the people who lived in these farmhouses. Curator: Exactly. Who were they? What were their stories? Bosboom gives us a glimpse, but it's our responsibility to consider their place within the larger social and economic narratives of the time. How were rural communities being affected? Editor: I suppose appreciating a landscape isn't just about admiring the view; it's about understanding the context of the people within it. I'm going to look at landscapes a bit differently from now on. Curator: Indeed! Seeing art this way encourages us to confront the complexities of the human experience reflected in every brushstroke. Hopefully that offers a much more holistic experience!