Landschap met ingestort huis, knotwilg en varken 1829 - 1830

Barend Cornelis Koekkoek made this drawing, Landschap met ingestort huis, knotwilg en varken, using pen in the Netherlands. Looking at the tumbledown house and the grazing pig, we see a romanticised view of rural life. The emphasis on the tranquility of nature and the picturesque qualities of the scene reflect a nostalgia for the countryside, and a desire to escape the increasing industrialisation of the Netherlands at this time. Images like this create meaning through visual codes and historical associations. The romantic movement of the 19th century was interested in the relationship between nature and culture. We see evidence of this in the art institution, which has framed it for exhibition. Further research into the context in which Koekkoek was working can help us understand the social and institutional conditions that shaped its production and reception. We can better understand this artwork by looking into the cultural and historical circumstances that formed it.