Landschap met schapen 1848 - 1888

Anton Mauve made this sketch called *Landschap met schapen*, or *Landscape with Sheep*, with graphite on paper. Mauve was one of the leading artists of the Hague School, based in the Netherlands during the second half of the 19th century. What might seem like a simple landscape actually speaks to the changing role of rural life and its place within the art world. The Hague School artists turned away from the grand history paintings that had previously dominated the Dutch art scene. Instead, they focused on scenes of everyday life, often featuring the rural landscape and the working class. In this sketch, the sheep are part of that story. They represent a connection to the land and to a simpler way of life that was rapidly disappearing as the Netherlands industrialized. To understand this sketch better, we can consult archival material from the Hague School and examine other works that depict rural life. This kind of historical research helps us see how art reflects and responds to the society around it.