Bosgezicht 1807 - 1861

Cornelis Steffelaar made this drawing, titled "Bosgezicht," with pen in gray ink and brush in gray wash. The image presents a view into a wood with tall trees. Steffelaar was working in the Netherlands during a time of great social change. Following the Napoleonic era, the Dutch sought to redefine their national identity. The art world played a role. Artists turned to familiar local landscapes to reinforce a sense of place. The image is created with precision and attention to detail. Steffelaar's approach to the forest interior suggests an appreciation for the ordinary scenes of everyday life. These naturalistic depictions were in contrast to romantic landscape paintings. They could also be seen as a reaction to the grand history paintings promoted by academic institutions. To understand this work better, we can research the cultural history of the Netherlands in the 19th century. We can look to exhibition reviews, art criticism, and other publications to see how Steffelaar’s work was received in its own time. The meaning of art is always tied to its specific social and institutional context.