Landschap met schapen en geit c. 1806 - 1876

This is 'Landschap met schapen en geit' - Landscape with Sheep and Goat - made by Job Augustus Bakker, whose life spanned the late 18th and mid-19th centuries. During this time, the Netherlands underwent significant political and social change, including periods of French occupation and the establishment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Bakker's drawing invites us to consider the relationship between humanity and nature, a theme central to the Romantic movement. The careful depiction of animals grazing peacefully evokes a sense of harmony, yet the stark, barren tree on the right introduces a note of melancholy. This work reflects the values of a society grappling with industrialization and urbanization, seeking solace in idealized pastoral scenes. Bakker offers not just an image, but an emotional space for reflection on what is lost and what remains.