Bomen naast een plattelandswoning 1854 - 1914

Albert Neuhuys made this pencil sketch of trees next to a rural home. The application of pencil is very light, almost tentative, as if he wanted to suggest the scene rather than nail it down. This is in keeping with the Impressionist aesthetic of the period. However, what really interests me is the use of paper as a readily available, relatively inexpensive support. Consider the historical context: paper was becoming increasingly accessible in the 19th century due to industrialization, particularly the mechanization of paper mills. This availability democratized art-making to some extent, allowing artists to create preparatory sketches and studies, like this one, more freely. The very lightness of the drawing, its ephemeral quality, speaks to this change in the means of production and consumption. By paying attention to the materials and their historical context, we gain a richer understanding of the artwork. It prompts us to reflect on the social and economic forces that shaped artistic practices in the 19th century.