Boerderij met hooischuur 1865 - 1930

Jac van Looij made this drawing of a farm with a haystack on lined paper, likely during the late 19th or early 20th century. The quickly sketched image, including the postmark from Haarlem in the upper right corner, suggests it may have been made during a day trip outside the city. Van Looij was a versatile artist, and his career reflects the changing social and artistic landscape of the Netherlands. While he began as a more conventional painter, he later embraced impressionism, capturing fleeting moments and everyday scenes. This sketch, with its loose lines and focus on the humble farm, embodies that shift. The rise of landscape painting in the Netherlands was closely tied to a growing sense of national identity. Artists sought to capture the unique beauty of the Dutch countryside. Drawings and paintings like this helped shape the image of the Netherlands and can offer insights into the cultural values of the time. To understand the work of Van Looij, it's useful to look at the archives of Dutch art institutions, exhibition catalogues, and period publications. These offer a window into the complex relationship between art and society.