Eik bij Malling Abbey 1858

Gerrit Postma made this pencil drawing of an oak tree at Malling Abbey in the Netherlands sometime in the mid-19th century. The drawing depicts a tranquil scene, with a large oak tree dominating the foreground, a small bridge over a stream, and a building in the distance. The image creates meaning through its depiction of nature and the Dutch countryside. At the time, landscape art was a very popular genre that reflected the social and cultural values of the rising middle class. They were eager to display imagery of the national landscape in their homes. This drawing has elements of both the romantic and the realistic style. The work is a social document, reflecting the values and aspirations of the Dutch middle class in the 19th century. To fully understand art like this, we look into its historical context, considering social, political, and institutional forces that shaped its creation and reception.