Huis 1849 - 1895

Here we see a sketch titled 'Huis' by Willem Koekkoek, made with graphite on paper sometime in the late 19th century. During Koekkoek's time, the Netherlands was experiencing a period of relative peace and prosperity, which allowed for a flourishing of the arts and a focus on national identity. The image shows an artist's easel, and a suggestion of the interior architectural space around it, a window, a wall, a flight of stairs. As an artist who specialized in architectural and landscape scenes, Koekkoek's personal experiences and deep connection to the Dutch landscape were very formative to his work. While this work is only a sketch, it is a valuable reminder of the importance of space and place in the creation of art. The architecture here suggests the interiority of the Dutch home, but also by extension the artist’s sense of place, and perhaps, of belonging.