Riviergezicht met zeilschip 1846

Johannes Bosboom made this watercolor of a river scene with a sailboat sometime in the 19th century. The work depicts a tranquil Dutch scene; a sailboat glides along a waterway, a dock sits in the foreground, and a windmill rises in the background. Bosboom was a member of the Hague School, a group of Dutch artists working in the second half of the 19th century. They were deeply influenced by the French Barbizon school and advocated for realism in art, often depicting the Dutch landscape and scenes of everyday life. Holland's political stability and economic strength allowed artists to focus on quiet domestic scenes. The rise of the middle class also meant there was a growing market for paintings that reflected their values and experiences. Understanding this drawing better involves delving into the institutional histories of the art market and the aesthetic values of 19th-century Dutch society. This would help contextualize Bosboom's work and better understand the relationship between art and society.