Landschap met bomen en een huis 1893

This is Hermannus Adrianus van Oosterzee’s “Landschap met bomen en een huis,” which translates to "Landscape with trees and a house.” Van Oosterzee lived from 1863 to 1933, a period that saw vast changes in the way landscape was depicted in art. Notice how Van Oosterzee uses expressive, almost hurried lines to capture a fleeting impression of the scene. This technique aligns him with the movements that were departing from traditional, idealized landscapes. What we see here is less about precise representation and more about capturing the feeling of a place. Consider the emotional weight of landscapes during this era. They could evoke a sense of national identity, or serve as a refuge from the rapid industrialization of Europe. Van Oosterzee’s sketch taps into this, inviting us to ponder the human relationship with nature and the search for solace in a changing world. His work encourages us to find beauty in the simplicity and ephemerality of our surroundings.