Staande en zittende figuur aan een waterkant 1848 - 1888

Anton Mauve sketched "Standing and Seated Figure on a Waterfront," with graphite, at an unknown date. Mauve, a leading figure in the Hague School, often depicted serene landscapes reflecting the Netherlands’ intimate connection to water. In this sketch, Mauve captures figures by the water's edge, a scene that, on the surface, seems timeless. But consider the historical context: the late 19th century was a period of intense industrialization and urbanization. Artists like Mauve were turning to rural landscapes, perhaps seeking refuge from the changing world, idealizing a simpler, more 'authentic' way of life. The figures themselves are ambiguous. Are they workers, families, or simply observers of the landscape? The seated figure suggests contemplation or perhaps weariness, while the standing figure seems to gaze out at the horizon. In their quiet presence, the sketch asks us to reflect on our own relationship to the land and sea, and how we find solace in the face of constant change.