Houthakkers die een boom omhakken 1848 - 1888

Anton Mauve's "Houthakkers die een boom omhakken," (Woodcutters Felling a Tree) is a simple yet evocative pencil sketch from the late 19th century. The work is part of a series of drawings capturing the daily lives of rural workers in the Netherlands. The composition focuses on two figures standing in the shadow of a felled tree, their forms barely discernible in the hazy background. The loose, gestural lines of Mauve's sketch convey the quietude of the scene and highlight the artist's fascination with capturing the essence of simple labor. Currently housed at the Rijksmuseum, this drawing represents the artist's sensitivity to the beauty of everyday life and his mastery of drawing techniques.