Blooming Clover

Artists such as Van Looij believed that the main purpose of nature painting was to stir the feelings of the viewer. Therefore, in the late 19th century, they returned to idealizing nature. Not to make it look impressive and powerful, but rather to convey an aura of nostalgia and tranquillity. Here Van Looij depicts grass and flowers at such close range that it seems as though we are looking at them through children’s eyes.