Longing for Nature

Initially, artists depicted nature as vast and imposing, but then the human influence became increasingly present in the paintings, until ultimately a longing for unspoilt nature came to dominate.

Unchanging

Until 1850, nature was seen as powerful and unchanging, and it was hardly imaginable that humans could have a lasting influence on it. Artists such as Willem Roelofs painted nature alive with drama and contrast. They also composed idyllic landscapes. In Landscape with a Rainstorm Threatening (c. 1825-1829), for example, Barend Cornelis Koekkoek shows shepherds in panoramic fields enjoying a simple and peaceful life.

The Industrial Revolution

That picture was to change completely with the Industrial Revolution. Human exploitation of natural resources intensified, and nature retreated to make way for agriculture and growing cities. Many artists wanted to escape the crowds and move to the countryside.

Paint tube

With the advent of modern painting equipment, such as the paint tube and the portable easel, it became much easier to paint outdoors. For the first time, artists were able to depict what they saw immediately in front of them. They began to focus on details such as the reflection of light on water, and on natural elements such as sand, or snow.

Idealisation

At the end of the 19th century, painters again began to idealise nature – not to make it appear impressive and powerful, but to convey a sense of nostalgia and tranquillity. This yielded more intimate landscapes.

Recognition

The Rijksmuseum is keen to devote greater attention to the under-acknowledged part played by women in Dutch cultural history. As part of this process, this year we hung three works by female artists in the museum’s Gallery of Honour. The Rijksmuseum has also initiated multipronged research into the role of women in Dutch cultural history and the representativeness of the Rijksmuseum collection. As part of this research we are conducting a survey of the number of female makers and artists and tracing their life stories, while also finding more detailed information about the women depicted in the paintings. In addition, female collectors, patrons, donors and curators will be scrutinising the collection and the institutional history of the museum.

Open 24 hours a day free of charge

In 2002 Rijksmuseum became the first art museum in the world to open a branch at an airport. Travellers can visit the museum free of charge, 24 hours a day. Souvenirs from the Rijksmuseum and other Dutch museums can be purchased in the adjacent shop.

Thanks to

Rijksmuseum Schiphol is made possible by ING, main sponsor Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol