Stengels met bloemen en bladeren 1889 - 1894

Antoon Derkinderen made this work called Stengels met bloemen en bladeren, or Stalks with Flowers and Leaves, with a pencil on paper. The lack of detail and almost scientific approach to the sketches of the flowers and foliage remind us that from the late 19th century onwards, artists would make preparatory studies for their work in the same way as scientists or doctors would conduct experiments. This sketch was made in the Netherlands, a culture steeped in the tradition of botanical illustration, flower painting, and the culture of gardening. During this period, the Netherlands was undergoing a period of social change with the growth of industrialization. The sketch's sparse and unadorned style is progressive, eschewing the decorative flourish and realism of previous generations of botanical art. Looking at sketches like this reminds us that to interpret art, we need to be like detectives, looking at the clues in the image and the historical context to understand better the artist's intentions.