Bij Arnhem 1813 - 1862

Barend Cornelis Koekkoek made this drawing called ‘Bij Arnhem’ with pen in grey ink. Koekkoek’s landscapes evoke the Dutch countryside of the Romantic era, a period marked by a rise in national pride and a collective yearning for an idyllic past. His work invites us to consider how cultural identity is constructed through landscape. Who gets to belong, and who is excluded? Here, a mother leads her children down a path. A dog merrily trots alongside. The figures in the landscape appear to represent traditional family values. Yet, the landscape itself plays a central role in defining national identity. The subdued tones and detailed rendering of nature creates a sense of nostalgia, yet they gloss over the social and economic disparities of the time. It makes us consider how these idealized images contribute to a narrative of national identity that may not fully reflect the experiences of all. Koekkoek’s landscape becomes a stage where national identity is both performed and observed.