Landschap met bebouwing 1880

This landscape with buildings was sketched by Louis Apol in the Netherlands, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. At first glance, it's a simple drawing of a humble country dwelling, yet Apol's landscapes fit within a broader cultural context. Apol was part of the Hague School, a group of Dutch artists who reacted against the rigid academic style of the time. They sought to represent the everyday life of the common people and the Dutch landscape. They often worked ‘en plein air’ or outdoors, in order to capture the realistic effects of light and atmosphere. Apol gained recognition for his winter landscapes in particular, although in this sketch one sees the bones of the landscape unadorned. He built his career within the art market, exhibiting regularly and gaining patronage from wealthy collectors. As art historians, we consider the institutional structures in which artists like Apol operated. We can research exhibition records, collectors' correspondence, and art criticism from the period to understand his place in the art world of his time.