Berkenbomen 1870 - 1931

Willem Bastiaan Tholen sketched ‘Berkenbomen’— translated as Birch Trees— with a pencil on paper. Tholen was part of the Hague School, and his works often captured the quiet, intimate moments in nature. This simple drawing is a study of trees, but I wonder what else it captures? In the late 19th century, the Netherlands was undergoing rapid industrialization. Artists like Tholen found solace in nature, maybe as a retreat from the changing world. These trees, standing tall and silent, might symbolize resilience and a connection to the earth amidst social upheaval. There's an emotional depth here too, isn't there? The starkness of the pencil lines against the paper evokes a sense of vulnerability, yet the strong verticality of the trees communicates a quiet strength. It invites us to reflect on our own relationship with the natural world, and perhaps consider what it means to find peace in simplicity.