Landschap met bomen en een man met wandelstok en mand 1839 - 1840

Paulus Lauters made this drawing of trees and a walking figure with pen in the Netherlands during the 19th century. It encapsulates many of the changing ideals of the period. In terms of social and cultural context, this unassuming drawing stands as a window into the burgeoning Romantic movement, where the power of nature was seen as a refuge from industrialisation. The figure in the image seems to be taking solace from the natural world. Lauters likely drew inspiration from the Barbizon school, a group of artists who advocated for painting ‘en plein air’ - directly from nature. This aesthetic shift reflects a broader societal move towards valuing individual experience. Art historians look to correspondence between artists, exhibition reviews, and sales records to fully understand these connections. So the next time you find yourself drawn to a landscape, consider how social forces shape our perception of nature.