Twee vakwerkhuizen en een boom 1807 - 1861

Cornelis Steffelaar made this drawing of two timbered houses and a tree using pen in gray and brush in gray and brown. This seemingly simple scene of vernacular architecture invites us to consider the social and cultural values attached to rural life in the Netherlands during the 19th century. The detailed rendering of the timbered houses speaks to an interest in local building traditions and craftsmanship. In the 19th century, there was increasing pride in national traditions. Steffelaar's choice of subject suggests a valuing of the traditional architecture and rural setting. We might ask, what was the significance of rural imagery and the aesthetic of the ‘simple life’ during a time of rapid industrialization and urbanization? Were there political implications of looking to the countryside as a source of national identity and cultural values? To understand the social and cultural meanings of this work more fully, we can consult local historical archives, studies of Dutch architecture, and analyses of 19th-century Dutch society.