Harvesting potatoes, Drenthe

Hendrik Willem Mesdag was first introduced to the landscape as a subject matter during his time in Oosterbeek. In 1866 he spent the summer there with his wife Sientje Mesdag-van Houten and was introduced to landscape painting. Oosterbeek was popular among artists at that time. He came under the influence of the landscape painters Johannes Bilders and Willem Roelofs. During his stay he decided to be a painter. in a rented hous. In the autumn he went to Brussel to study under Roelofs and the famous orientalist Laurens Alma Tadema. During this time he also chose the landscape around Brussels as the subject for several of his works. During the summers he often travelled north of Groningen and in 1868 he visited the German vacation island of Norderney where he discovered the subject for which he became famous: the sea. In 1874 Mesdag went to Drenthe for the first time to visit his brother-in-law, Mr Blaupot ten Cate, who lived in Vries, Drenthe. In the coming years he would return to Vries frequently.