Kar voor een boerderij c. 1780 - 1840

Carel Lodewijk Hansen created this print, titled *Cart Before a Farmhouse*, using etching techniques. The image, rendered in delicate lines, presents a rural scene dominated by a farmhouse with a steeply pitched, thatched roof, and the texture of the thatched roof is palpable, created by dense, repetitive lines. The composition balances the weight of the farmhouse on the right with open fields on the left, creating a sense of depth. A cart, positioned centrally, anchors the foreground, while a figure carrying wood adds a human element, suggesting scale. Notice how the artist uses hatching and cross-hatching to model forms and create tonal variation, evoking a sense of light and shadow. These techniques not only describe the physical attributes of the scene but also contribute to the overall mood, inviting us to consider the formal strategies that Hansen employs to convey the essence of rural life. It is in this interplay of form and content that the etching’s artistic value resides, offering a window into the aesthetic values of its time.