Landschap met een rij bomen 1893

Hermannus Adrianus van Oosterzee made this sketch, "Landschap met een rij bomen," at an undetermined date, using graphite on paper. Van Oosterzee lived through a period of significant social and political change in the Netherlands, including the rise of industrialization and urbanization. This drawing offers a glimpse into the artist's engagement with the natural world, during a time when the landscape was undergoing rapid transformation. The choice of a row of trees as the subject matter evokes a sense of intimacy and connection with the land, which has often been a theme in Dutch art. The bare strokes suggest a landscape stripped bare, which can evoke feelings of both vulnerability and resilience. It is interesting to consider how gender might intersect with the reception of this artwork. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, women artists were often relegated to painting domestic scenes or portraits, while landscapes were considered a more masculine subject. Van Oosterzee's sketch invites us to reflect on our own relationship with the environment and the emotional resonance of simple, natural forms.