Pad in een heuvellandschap c. 1803 - 1818

Arnoldus Johannes Eymer made this pencil drawing of a path in a hilly landscape sometime in the first half of the 19th century. Eymer's artistic career took place during a time of significant social and political change in Europe. Looking at this landscape sketch today, we can think about the relationship between nature and culture, between the land and the human presence upon it. Who is this path for? A solitary traveler, perhaps a worker making their way home? The path suggests connection, but also perhaps labor. The path cuts through the land, simultaneously creating access and enacting a form of mark-making. Consider the role that landscape has played in the construction of national identity, and the ways in which artists have either reinforced or challenged these narratives. How does Eymer's work contribute to or depart from the artistic and cultural conventions of his time? Does it evoke a sense of belonging, or does it hint at the social and economic forces shaping the land?