Huis met bomen, een pomp en een tuinpad 1848 - 1888

"Huis met bomen, een pomp en een tuinpad" is a pencil drawing by Anton Mauve. Though undated, we can situate Mauve within the Hague School, a late 19th-century Dutch art movement that turned away from the academic style of the time towards a Realist style influenced by the French Barbizon School. As such, this drawing embodies a shift in focus towards the daily lives of ordinary people. Mauve depicts a humble scene, celebrating the quiet dignity of rural life. The drawing is more than just a visual representation; it’s a narrative about the relationship between people and their environment. Mauve, who was also Vincent van Gogh’s cousin-in-law, had a profound influence on Van Gogh who greatly admired Mauve’s ability to capture the nuances of light and atmosphere and how that evokes a sense of intimacy and connection to the land. Notice how Mauve, rather than glorifying the Dutch landscape, finds beauty in the simplicity and functionality of everyday life. It’s a gentle reminder of the value in the mundane.