Landschap met bomen c. 1891

Egbert Rubertus Derk Schaap made this sketch of trees with charcoal. The Dutch landscape tradition carries a long history of not just representing, but also shaping the nation. We can read this drawing as a document within a specific visual culture. Schaap lived during a period of rapid urbanization and industrialization in the Netherlands. The late 19th century witnessed a growing disconnect between city dwellers and the natural world. Artists like Schaap became interested in landscape art as a means of preserving a sense of national identity rooted in the land. What does this drawing tell us about how people understood the role of nature? And what did they want from it? To answer these questions, we can consult sources such as period writings about the landscape, conservation movements, and of course, a larger body of art to help us understand this sketch and its cultural significance.