Landschap met bomen 1893

'Landschap met bomen' or 'Landscape with trees' is a pencil drawing by Hermannus Adrianus van Oosterzee. Born in the Netherlands in 1863, he lived through a time of significant social upheaval, including the rise of industrialization. Though this work appears simple, the quick strokes and the absence of much detail invite us to reflect on the rapid changes in perception of nature during Oosterzee’s lifetime. Was this a study for a larger painting, or a statement on impermanence? As you observe this landscape, consider the legacy of landscape painting. It's easy to find idealized beauty in nature. But here, Oosterzee resists the picturesque. He presents us with something rougher, more immediate, as if inviting us to question what we seek when we look at a landscape. Is it beauty, solace, or a reflection of our own transient existence?