Landschap met waterplas 1891

Elias Stark made this landscape with a pool of water using etching. At the close of the 19th century, stark realism dominated artistic practice in the Netherlands. Artists looked to capture everyday life, and especially the lives of those in the agricultural sector. Stark’s image participates in this trend, with its plain depiction of a shepherd and his flock set against a bleak landscape. Looking closely, we see a society in transition. The rural setting and traditional occupation depicted here existed side-by-side with increasing industrialization and urbanization. Artists like Stark were faced with the problem of representing a moment in history where the old ways of life were being rapidly replaced. Were they celebrating the endurance of tradition, or lamenting its passing? Historians can use sources like censuses, economic surveys, and personal documents to enrich our understanding of artworks like this. Together, they reveal the complex social and institutional forces that determined artistic production during this period.