Huis te Mettmann, boven Düsseldorf 1784

Johannes Elffers created this drawing of the 'Huis te Mettmann, boven Düsseldorf' using pen in gray ink and brush in gray. The subject is a rural scene: a large, aged house, possibly a farmhouse, is the focal point, and two figures appear to be engaged in conversation near the overgrown foliage, suggesting a narrative element within the landscape. This drawing may reflect the broader cultural and institutional history of landscape art in the Netherlands, particularly the Romantic era. The artist's choice to depict this particular setting and the figures within it suggests an interest in the everyday lives of people and the settings they inhabit. As art historians, we can draw upon inventories, estate papers, and other archival sources to flesh out the story that Elffers only hints at. The meaning of this work is contingent on the social and institutional contexts from which it emerged.