Landschap met wilde eenden bij avond 1872 - 1913

This etching, “Landscape with ducks at night”, was made by Henri Rul, a Dutch artist working in the late 19th and early 20th century. This image is not simply a depiction of nature but also reflects changing social attitudes to the environment at the time it was made. As the industrial revolution progressed, more people began to value the natural world as a space for recreation, and as a refuge from urban life. In the Netherlands, with its extensive waterways and flat landscapes, there was a growing interest in images of wildfowl, not just as a source of food, but also as objects of aesthetic contemplation. The image evokes the quiet beauty of the Dutch countryside, with its subtle tonal gradations and careful attention to detail. Historians of art can draw on a range of sources, from exhibition reviews to economic data on the art market, to help us understand the complex interplay of art and society.