Vogel in het riet 1878 - 1907

Theo van Hoytema made this lithograph, ‘Vogel in het riet,’ or ‘Bird in the Reeds,’ using crayon and brush, probably in the 1890s. It depicts, as the title suggests, a bird hidden in a dense thicket. Van Hoytema was a Dutch artist known for his naturalistic depictions of birds and landscapes. This print reflects the growing interest in nature and the environment at the end of the 19th century. In a rapidly industrializing world, images of undisturbed nature offered a comforting escape. But it also emerged from a growing conservation movement concerned with preserving natural habitats. The Rijksmuseum, like many national museums, has a history of collecting and displaying works that reflect national identity and cultural values. Van Hoytema’s images of the Dutch landscape and its wildlife would have contributed to a sense of national pride and awareness of the natural world. By studying the history of conservation movements, exhibition records, and the artist's other works, we can gain a deeper understanding of the cultural meanings embedded in this seemingly simple image.