Studieblad, onder andere met een aangemeerd zeilschip, roeiboten en figuren 1870 - 1931

Willem Bastiaan Tholen made this sketch in pencil, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. It shows boats and figures on or near the water. Tholen was associated with the Hague School, a group of Dutch artists working around The Hague who shared an interest in painting en plein air and depicting everyday scenes of Dutch life. This sketch likely comes from the artist's practice, made from direct observation. It's this emphasis on observation and a down-to-earth subject matter that defines much of the art produced in the Netherlands during this period. Artists turned away from grand historical or mythological subjects and toward the kind of un-idealized imagery we see here. The Rijksmuseum, where this work is housed, maintains an extensive collection of drawings and prints. These works on paper offer insight into the creative process. By studying Tholen's sketchbooks and other archival material, we can understand the artist's training and the cultural values that shaped his artistic vision. This kind of research is invaluable for understanding the social role of art.