Schaapskudde op een hei 1848 - 1888

Anton Mauve made this drawing, Sheep in a Meadow, with pencil on paper. Mauve belonged to the Hague School, a group of Dutch realist painters who captured the somber tones and rural settings of the Dutch landscape. Mauve’s choice of subject reflects the social and economic realities of the time, as he depicted the life of the common worker and the vast, open landscapes that defined the Netherlands. The flock of sheep, rendered with soft, blurred lines, evokes a sense of tranquility, yet hints at the economic role these animals played. The solitary figure of the shepherd reminds us of the individual’s connection to the land. His art presents an idealized view of rural life, yet it also acknowledges the hardships faced by those who depended on the land for survival. Mauve’s work invites us to consider our relationship with the environment and the human impact on it. What do we see when we contemplate our place within a natural landscape?