Landschap met links een boom met erachter een schaapskooi 1807 - 1861

Cornelis Steffelaar created this landscape drawing with ink and brush, depicting a tree and a sheepfold, sometime in the 19th century. During this period, landscapes became a popular medium for artists to explore ideas about national identity, and the relationship between humans and nature. Looking at the piece, consider how it romanticizes rural life. The solitary tree and humble sheepfold evoke a sense of simplicity and pastoral beauty, but it also can reinforce a nostalgic view of rural life, glossing over the hardships and realities of agricultural labor, and its intersection with class. Also, think about the role of landscape art in shaping our understanding of place and belonging, and how it can perpetuate or challenge existing power structures and social hierarchies. While seemingly bucolic, works like these can act as powerful cultural symbols.