Boslandschap met rivier en visser 1798 - 1837

This is ‘Wooded landscape with river and fisherman’ made by Ernst Willem Jan Bagelaar during the late 18th or early 19th century. Bagelaar, who was a Dutch artist, created this landscape during a time of significant political and social upheaval in Europe. The print reflects a fascination with nature as a retreat from the rapidly changing world, yet we need to acknowledge the political and social dimensions of landscapes. Who had access to these spaces? Who is represented, and who is conspicuously absent? Here we see a solitary fisherman in a scene which on the surface evokes tranquility and harmony. This imagery was often consumed by a particular class, a class that had the means and leisure to appreciate such idealized depictions. This piece, like many landscapes of its time, invites us to reflect on the relationship between nature, identity, and social class. It reminds us that even seemingly idyllic scenes are embedded in complex historical and cultural contexts.