Landschap met brug en poort 1851

This landscape with bridge and gate was drawn by Johannes Eusebius Voet van Campen in 1851. During the 19th century, landscapes became popular as expressions of national identity and romantic ideals. Looking at this drawing, the artist includes a bridge that seems in disrepair which can be read as a symbol of both transition and decay. Figures with dogs are also shown which highlights the gentry class and their leisurely pursuits, reflecting a hierarchy deeply rooted in social class and land ownership. The dark and light contrast creates a romantic, almost melancholic mood. The focus on the nation and its landscape also served to highlight and, perhaps, mask class divisions. It promoted a unified vision of the nation, but it often obscured the social and economic realities of the time. Voet van Campen provides a complex view on nationhood and nostalgia, and the emotional distance or closeness one might feel in relation to the land.