Landschap met twee wandelaars 1778 - 1838

Anthonie van den Bos created this landscape with two walkers using pen and ink. Van den Bos lived in a time of great social change, including revolutions in America and France. At first glance, the figures seem merely part of the landscape. Yet, these walkers, rendered with a delicate hand, invite contemplation. Who are these figures? What is their relationship to the land? How are we to understand their relation to each other? This work raises questions about humanity's place within nature, and the effects of industrialization on the landscape. The artist challenges traditional landscape painting by embedding subtle social commentary within a seemingly serene scene. The drawing becomes a mirror reflecting our own relationship with the natural world, and our place within its ongoing narrative.