Landschap met boerderijen c. 1883 - 1885

George Hendrik Breitner made this landscape with farmhouses using pencil on paper. As we consider this image, let's think about the shifting social landscape of the Netherlands during Breitner's time. Born in 1857, Breitner witnessed rapid urbanization and industrialization. Traditional rural life was changing, and artists like Breitner were capturing these transformations. The sketch emphasizes the simplicity of rural architecture. Was this a commentary on the changing times? A nostalgic look at the past? Or simply an objective record of the Dutch countryside? To answer these questions, a social historian would consult sources such as census records, agricultural reports, and period writings about rural life to place the image within the context of its time. What might those resources tell us about the public role of art?