Weidelandschap met figuren in roeiboten op een rivier 1870 - 1931

Editor: Here we have Willem Bastiaan Tholen’s “Weidelandschap met figuren in roeiboten op een rivier,” a graphite and pencil drawing dating from 1870 to 1931. It’s such a fleeting, ethereal scene. What stands out to you? Curator: The loose sketching style, indicative of Impressionism, almost feels like a study, doesn’t it? Consider the time period; landscape art was becoming less about pure representation and more about capturing subjective experience. How might we view this through a lens of social and political shifts impacting leisure and our relationship with nature? Editor: So, beyond just a pretty scene, it's a reflection of society’s changing values? Curator: Precisely! The presence of figures in rowboats points towards burgeoning middle class with time for leisure, engaging with nature. It pushes me to ask, whose leisure are we seeing? Who had access to these idyllic landscapes? The way he captured light reflects fleeting moments of modern life. The swiftness and ease implied in the drawing process seems aligned with values of progress during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Do you see a contrast between the quick, light sketching style and perhaps deeper currents related to industrialization? Editor: That’s fascinating! I hadn't considered it in terms of social class and accessibility, but it's true. The style almost romanticizes a reality not everyone experienced. Curator: Exactly. Thinking critically about art means asking who is represented, who is absent, and whose narrative is prioritized. It transforms how we engage with art from the past, as well as shaping art that’s produced in the present and future. Editor: I see it now. By acknowledging those societal structures, we gain a more nuanced appreciation for art history and the art of today. Thank you!