Landschap met drie wilgen langs het water 1860 - 1910

Alfred Elsen made this print called "Landschap met drie wilgen langs het water" or "Landscape with three willows by the water" with etching around the turn of the century. You can see it in the formal precision of his lines. What I see here is a landscape being mediated by the institutions of art. Etching allowed the artist to capture the Dutch landscape, to bring it within the realm of aesthetics, and to sell it in the art market. The willows here are a reminder of the deep connection between the Dutch people and their environment, since they are an integral part of the landscape. If you want to appreciate this artwork even more, consider researching the popularity of landscape art in the Netherlands during this period, especially the relationship between art, nature, and the rising middle class. You could discover how artists like Elsen contributed to the creation of a national identity.