Rij bomen aan een waterkant 1848 - 1888

Anton Mauve made this sketch of trees by the water, using a graphite pencil, during a period of significant transformation in the Netherlands. Industrialization was rapidly changing the landscape, and artists like Mauve were increasingly drawn to capturing the quiet, rural scenes that were quickly disappearing. Mauve, who was also Vincent van Gogh's cousin-in-law, belonged to the Hague School, which emphasized realism and the depiction of everyday life. In this context, the choice to sketch such a simple scene becomes quite poignant. There's a certain melancholy in the fleeting nature of the landscape he captures, as if he's aware of its impermanence. The sketch itself is quite raw, with visible strokes and erasures, which invites us to consider the artist's process and emotional connection to the subject matter. It is less about polished representation and more about intimate reflection. Consider how the sketch resonates with our own feelings about nature and the impact of societal changes on our environment.