Corner of a Garden with Nasturtiums 1891

Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst painted this small oil on canvas, entitled "Corner of a Garden with Nasturtiums," at an unknown date. Holst was a Dutch artist who lived through some momentous shifts in the history of art. Born in 1868, his career coincided with the rise of impressionism and, later, expressionism. But while his contemporaries embraced these new styles as opportunities to engage with contemporary life, Holst was drawn to the more symbolic and allegorical modes of representation that dominated the Dutch art world. This painting, with its focus on the beauty of nature, reflects a longing for a simpler time. The artist may have wished to transport viewers away from the rapidly industrializing world. The meaning of this work lies in its relationship to the artistic and social context in which it was made. Further research into the Dutch art scene and the societal changes that took place during Holst's lifetime would shed more light on the painting’s purpose.