Het plein van Blaricum Possibly 1839

Hendrik Abraham Klinkhamer created this pencil drawing, called ‘Het plein van Blaricum’ - which translates to ‘The square of Blaricum’ - some time in the mid-19th century. It depicts a quiet village scene, typical of the Netherlands at that time. The drawing captures a moment of everyday life; figures of children play in the foreground. However, it offers a sanitised version of rural life. The thatched cottages and open square evoke a sense of nostalgia for a pre-industrial past. Made during a period of rapid urbanisation and social change in the Netherlands, such images reflected a longing for simpler times and a more communal way of life. Artists and writers turned to the countryside as a source of national identity and moral values. The Rijksmuseum, as an institution, played a key role in shaping these narratives through its collections and exhibitions. We can learn more about the social function of art in the Netherlands by consulting archival sources, exhibition catalogues, and publications from the period. This helps us understand the complex interplay between art, society, and national identity.