Landschap met rivier, visser en twee schapen 1809 - 1859

Pieter de Goeje created this landscape with river, fisherman, and two sheep in the early to mid-19th century. As a painter active during the Romantic period, De Goeje invites us into a serene vision of Dutch rural life. The detailed etching depicts a tranquil scene: a fisherman by the riverbank, sheep grazing, and lush foliage. While seemingly pastoral, this work exists within a context of significant social change. The Dutch landscape tradition often served to articulate ideas of national identity, particularly during times of political upheaval. De Goeje was working in the decades after the French occupation of the Netherlands, when the young nation was trying to define itself. How might the emphasis on the ordinary, on the everyday rural scenes, function as a quiet statement of cultural pride and resilience? The emotional resonance of this landscape lies in its celebration of the familiar. It invites us to reflect on the simple, enduring aspects of life amidst historical change.