Landweg bij Hilversum 1892

This etching, "Landweg bij Hilversum," was made in 1892 by Barthold Willem Floris van Riemsdijk. The image depicts a rural scene in the Netherlands, a country undergoing rapid urbanization at the time. Riemsdijk, as director of the Rijksmuseum, occupied a position of institutional power within the Dutch art world. His choice to depict a humble, rural landscape reflects a nostalgic view of the countryside. We can consider it in the context of the art movements of the time. Was he reacting to the rise of the Impressionists? Was he involved in any artistic movements in the Netherlands? Looking at archival material such as exhibition reviews and society records may reveal the artist's intentions and the public's perception of his work. By looking at the institutional and social context, we are better positioned to understand the cultural meaning of this unassuming image.