Landschap met velden en boerderij 1867 - 1931

Maurits van der Valk made this etching of a landscape with fields and a farm. Produced in the Netherlands, this image invites us to reflect on the role of art in shaping our understanding of the Dutch countryside. The print presents an idyllic view, with meticulous lines creating texture in the fields and sky, conveying a sense of rural peace. But what social and economic realities underpinned such scenes? During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Netherlands underwent significant agricultural changes. New farming techniques increased productivity while transforming the rural landscape. How did these shifts affect the lives of farmers and rural communities, and how might they be reflected or masked in artworks like this? To understand the image more fully, we might explore agricultural history archives, census data, and local historical records, which would reveal the social and economic context in which this image was created. By considering such sources, we gain insight into how art mediates our relationship with history and place.