Veenplas

About this artwork

plaatrand: hoogte 87 mm x breedte 197 mm

Art Historical Context

**Veenplas** byus Ludovicus Cor, created in 1854, is a delicate etching measuring 87 mm in height by 197 mm width—its plate mark precisely matching these compact dimensions. This small-scale print exemplifies the precision of 19th-century printmaking, where etching allowed artists to incise intricate lines into a metal plate, capturing fine textures through acid biting. Cornet, a noted Dutch artist of the Romantic era, favored such intimate formats, making his works accessible for collectors and study. The title *Veenplas*—translating to "peat bog" or "moorland pond"—evokes the watery, expansive landscapes of the Netherlands, where peat extraction shaped both economy and environment in the mid-1800s. Through etching's rich tonal range, Cornet likely rendered the reflective surfaces and atmospheric depth of this humble yet iconic terrain, a staple of Dutch art from Rembrandt to the Hague School. This piece reflects a era when artists celebrated national scenery amid industrialization. As a window into everyday Dutch heritage, *Veenplas* invites us to appreciate the subtle beauty of overlooked wetlands, blending technical mastery with quiet reverence for the land. (198 words)

About the Artist

Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet · 1815–1882

Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet (1815–1882) was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, and museum curator whose career bridged artistic practice and cultural preservation. Born in Leiden in 1815, Cornet devoted his life to documenting Dutch history and culture through his paintings and drawings while simultaneously working to preserve the nation's artistic heritage as head of Leiden's Prentenkabinet (Prints Cabin...