Landschap met weilanden, water en boerderij 1867 - 1914

Maurits van der Valk made this etching called ‘Landscape with meadows, water and farm’ without a specified date, but it probably dates from the late 19th or early 20th century. It depicts a rural scene, most likely from the Netherlands. Van der Valk was part of a generation of Dutch artists who turned to the countryside for inspiration, in response to the rise of industrialization and urbanization. The image creates meaning through its visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. We can see the farm as a symbol of traditional Dutch life, and the meadows and water as a reminder of the country's natural beauty. Looking at the etching through the lens of social history, we might ask how it comments on the social structures of its time. Is it a celebration of rural life, or a critique of the forces that were threatening it? To understand it better, we might want to research the social and economic conditions of the Netherlands at the time it was made.