Landschap, mogelijk bomen 1881 - 1927

This sketch of trees by Johan Antonie de Jonge gives us a glimpse into the world of Dutch landscape art at the turn of the 20th century. Working in the Netherlands at this time meant engaging with a rich tradition of landscape painting, often tied to ideas of national identity and the relationship between people and the land. De Jonge, though less known than some of his contemporaries, would have been part of a network of artists, galleries, and art schools that shaped the art world of the time. The loose, suggestive lines of the drawing invite us to consider the artist's process and the way he captures the essence of the trees with minimal detail. We might ask, what was De Jonge's relationship with the artistic establishment? Did he embrace or challenge the conventions of landscape art? Archival research into exhibition records, art criticism, and the artist's personal correspondence could shed light on these questions, allowing us to better understand the social and institutional context in which this sketch was created.