Heuvellandschap met bomen 1870 - 1931

Willem Bastiaan Tholen created this drawing, 'Heuvellandschap met bomen,' which translates to 'Hilly Landscape with Trees,' with graphite on paper. Tholen painted during a period of significant social change in the Netherlands, marked by industrialization and urbanization. Artists like Tholen captured rural landscapes, reflecting a nostalgia for a simpler, more agrarian past. In this image, the soft graphite captures a landscape that feels both accessible and slightly melancholic. The trees are rendered with a delicate touch, almost as if they’re breathing. Tholen’s choice of subject reflects a broader cultural interest in the natural world, but it also speaks to a personal connection to these landscapes. As he once said, "I paint what I feel, not just what I see." This drawing embodies a quiet defiance against the rapid changes of his time, offering a space for contemplation amidst the noise of modern life. It invites us to consider our own relationship with the landscapes that shape our identities and histories.