Berglandschap met bomen en vijver 1834 - 1838

Curator: Just look at this enchanting drawing. It’s entitled “Berglandschap met bomen en vijver” which translates to “Mountainous Landscape with Trees and Pond.” It was created by Jean Baptiste Louis Hubert between 1834 and 1838 and it’s part of the Rijksmuseum collection. The medium here is pencil on paper. Editor: It gives off this serene, almost sleepy atmosphere. The muted greyscale tones definitely contribute, but there's also something about the gentle curves of the landscape and the quiet stillness of the pond's reflection. It feels very dreamlike. Curator: That dreamlike quality absolutely aligns with the Romantic movement, which really emphasized emotion and individualism as a response to the rationalism of the Enlightenment. Artists like Hubert were trying to capture not just a scene, but a feeling, a mood… Editor: Precisely. Water is often seen as symbolic of the unconscious mind, so the reflective surface here, almost mirroring the trees, adds a layer of psychological depth. Like the external world mirroring the internal. Plus, trees themselves symbolize growth and connection – a reaching towards the heavens and grounding in the earth. Curator: And it’s interesting you point out the water's reflection, it really speaks to the human desire to find our reflection in nature. To see ourselves mirrored in its beauty and tranquility. But beyond the symbolism, what really strikes me is how skillfully Hubert uses just pencil to convey such depth and texture. It's incredibly realistic while maintaining that slightly softened, romantic haze. Editor: He's masterfully captured that fleeting, sublime moment that we humans love to feel immersed in! The fact that this vista is still around today in a form captured almost two centuries ago really shows a drive to eternalize such natural power and serenity. I always think of the nature writer, John Muir, when I consider these landscape pieces: “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” Curator: That’s a gorgeous sentiment! This little pencil drawing invites us to take a quiet walk within its world, doesn't it? To be still for a moment, in a landscape both familiar and… somehow beyond. Editor: Absolutely! And perhaps even encourages a walk into our own landscapes, both internal and external!