Landschap met een plattelandswoning 1919

Reijer Stolk made this sketch of a rural landscape with pen and ink, sometime between 1910 and 1940, likely in the Netherlands. Stolk was part of a generation of Dutch artists grappling with rapid urbanization. This drawing, with its rough lines and simple composition, shows a humble countryside scene. It could be seen as a nostalgic look at traditional Dutch life. Was he looking back to an older style of art, away from the modern art movements? To understand Stolk’s motivations, we can look at the social and cultural shifts happening in the Netherlands at the time, considering sources that explore the development of Dutch national identity, the rise of landscape painting, and the changing role of rural life. The sketch becomes more than just a picture; it's a window into a specific moment in Dutch history.