Forest Scenery 1606 - 1661

Cornelis Vroom painted "Forest Scenery" sometime during his life, between 1591 and 1661, using oil on canvas. Vroom was working in a period where the Dutch were asserting their independence, and the landscape became a potent symbol of national identity. But I wonder what a forest meant at the time? These paintings are about so much more than just trees. Were these lands open to everyone, or only a select few? Who is allowed to experience nature and who is excluded? While Vroom's landscape may initially seem like a straightforward representation of nature, it invites us to reflect on how social structures shape our relationship with the environment. This painting evokes a sense of both belonging and exclusion. It encapsulates the complex interplay between nature, culture, and power, reflecting a specific moment in history.