Zeilschepen op open water 1848 - 1888

Anton Mauve created this pencil drawing, “Zeilschepen op open water”, sometime in the 19th century. While the drawing is undated, we can consider the culture of the art world and the artist's position within it. Mauve belonged to the Hague School, a group of Dutch Realist painters. They captured the everyday life of the Netherlands and were reacting against the dominant Romantic style. Museums and art academies played a key role in promoting realist art as an expression of national identity tied to ordinary life. This drawing also shows the significance of the sea to Dutch culture and economy, while hinting at international trade. The pencil medium reflects a move away from academic training towards capturing fleeting impressions of a rapidly modernizing world. Historians of art can research exhibition records, artists' letters, and period criticism to better understand this work. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.