Aalscholver 1832 - 1897

Willem Roelofs created this watercolor work, entitled 'Aalscholver', or cormorant, on paper. During the 19th century, the Netherlands was experiencing a period of national romanticism; artists turned to the local landscape to define a sense of national identity. We can think about Roelofs's choice of subject - a common bird - as an attempt to connect with the everyday experiences of the Dutch people. The cormorant, a bird often seen near water, becomes an emblem of the Dutch landscape, intimately tied to the nation's identity. While seemingly a straightforward depiction, consider how the act of depicting the bird elevates it from mere wildlife to a symbol of national pride and belonging. How does this quiet study reflect the broader societal trends of national identity formation and the romanticization of the natural world? This watercolor invites us to reflect on the intersection of nature, identity, and nationhood.