Gathering Wood 1858 - 1888

Anton Mauve’s “Gathering Wood” captures a scene rendered in oil on canvas. Mauve’s work is rooted in the everyday labor, and the raw materiality of the landscape. The painting uses visible brushstrokes to build up texture, mimicking the rough surfaces of the wood, the animal's fur, and the muddy ground. The subdued palette emphasizes the damp, cold atmosphere, evoking the physical effort required for this work. It speaks of a direct connection to the land and its resources. Mauve was part of the Hague School, a group of Dutch Realist painters, who turned away from romanticism towards the working class and rural life. His focus on the act of gathering wood highlights the relationship between human effort and the natural environment. In this light, the painting serves as a reminder of the labor that underpins our basic needs, and the social context in which such labor is performed. It challenges us to consider the value of materials and the work involved in their provision.