Landschap bij De Steeg c. 1880

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande created this landscape near De Steeg using etching, a process that involves using acid to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. During the late 19th century, landscape art served as a powerful tool for constructing national identity and reflecting cultural values. Artists like van 's-Gravesande often depicted the land as serene and untouched by industrialization, idealizing the rural landscape as a sanctuary from the rapid changes of modern life. Van 's-Gravesande was part of a generation of artists who were deeply aware of the social and environmental impacts of industrial progress. His choice to depict quiet, pastoral scenes can be seen as a commentary on the changing relationship between humanity and nature. The delicate details of the etching invite us to reflect on the relationship between nature, identity, and place.