Boerderij bij Velp 1874 - 1878

Willem Cornelis Rip sketched this drawing, titled 'Farm near Velp', using graphite on paper. Rip was part of the second generation of the Hague School, and he typically depicted rural scenes. The Hague School artists often aimed to capture the atmosphere and light of the Dutch landscape with a subdued palette and loose brushwork. In this sketch, Rip captures a humble rural dwelling. The thatched roof and simple structure speak to a traditional way of life, deeply connected to the land. This drawing encapsulates the nostalgic longing for an idealized past, a theme prevalent in much of the Hague School's work. It reflects a desire to preserve a sense of national identity rooted in the Dutch countryside, even as industrialization and urbanization began to transform the Netherlands. Rip's sketch invites us to reflect on our relationship with the environment and the ways in which our sense of belonging is tied to place.