Studieblad met schapen en een boer c. 1904 - 1912

Ferdinand Oldewelt made this sketch of sheep and a farmer with pencil on paper, sometime near the turn of the 20th century. Oldewelt was a Dutch artist who gained recognition for his landscape paintings. This sketch offers insight into the socio-economic context of the Netherlands at that time, and how the labor and landscape was understood through art. In this sketch, Oldewelt captures a scene of rural life, depicting farmers tending to their flock of sheep. The composition and technique reflect the influence of the Hague School, a Dutch art movement that sought to depict everyday life in a realistic and unromanticized manner. We can ask: How does Oldewelt portray the relationship between humans and nature? Are the farmers depicted as heroic figures, or are they simply laborers? To fully appreciate the meaning of this drawing, we can examine the socio-economic conditions of the Netherlands during Oldewelt's time, researching the art institutions that gave shape to his career. By doing so, we gain a deeper understanding of the cultural values and beliefs that shaped this work.