Paddenstoelen 1874 - 1925

Jan Veth made this drawing of mushrooms with a graphite pencil. It is part of the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Veth's choice of subject matter places him in a tradition of naturalism, focusing on the mundane and overlooked aspects of the natural world. In the Netherlands during the late 19th century, a growing interest in science and nature coincided with a democratization of art. Artists moved away from traditional academic subjects, and towards scenes of everyday life. The sketch-like quality of the drawing, combined with the intimate focus on the mushrooms, suggests a personal and direct engagement with nature. Veth was also a writer and critic, deeply involved in the cultural and intellectual life of his time, and drawings like this one may have functioned as studies. The social role of art includes the task of representing and interpreting the world around us. Historians look at the artist, the institutions that support art, and the broader culture to understand how art generates meaning.