Landschap met bomen 1848 - 1888

Anton Mauve sketched this landscape with trees using graphite on paper; it is now held in the Rijksmuseum collection. The composition presents a horizon line that divides the paper into two distinct sections. The artist has rendered trees in the foreground using a series of vertical and curved lines. These lines, varying in thickness and intensity, delineate the trunks and suggest the volume of the foliage. The sketches give an idea of three-dimensionality, with trees overlapping. The marks capture the essence of the landscape. In structuralist terms, Mauve's sketch operates as a sign, with the marks on paper acting as signifiers that point to the signified: the concept of "landscape." Yet, the sketch is far from a mimetic representation; it highlights the artist’s interpretation. The quick strokes and unfinished appearance invite viewers to complete the image in their minds, engaging them in the creation of meaning. This sketch invites reflection on the relationships between perception, representation, and reality.