Landschap 1834 - 1903

This is a landscape sketch in graphite by Johan Hendrik Weissenbruch, a Dutch artist from the 19th century. It appears to be a page torn from a sketchbook, where the artist was capturing some initial ideas. The flatness of the Dutch landscape played an important part in the development of 19th century Dutch art. The Hague School of artists, to which Weissenbruch belonged, were particularly concerned with capturing the atmosphere of the landscape. The Rijksmuseum, where this drawing is held, plays an important role in shaping our understanding of Dutch Art History. By carefully studying the museum's records and archives, we can better understand the artistic and cultural context in which Weissenbruch worked. We can investigate the politics of imagery and consider the social conditions that shaped artistic production. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.