Landschap c. 1881 - 1888

Anton Mauve made this sketch, titled "Landschap" – or Landscape – with pencil on paper. Mauve was part of the Hague School, a group of Dutch artists active in the second half of the 19th century. They painted in a realistic style but with an emphasis on mood and atmosphere. Many of them, Mauve included, focused on rural subjects, picturing peasants and farmers at work in the fields. This interest in the countryside developed in relation to the growth of cities and industry in the Netherlands. The art market played a role, too. Pictures of rural life were popular with middle-class collectors. And institutions like the Pulchri Studio in The Hague gave artists a place to meet, exhibit, and sell their work. To fully understand Mauve's art, we might consult exhibition catalogues, sales records, and the archives of artists' societies. These resources help us understand the social conditions that shaped his artistic production.