Drawing from Nature
Discover the stories and activities organized around 'Drawing from Nature'
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Fear of nature
The exhibition starts in the seventeenth century, when there was mainly fear of nature. Diseases, dangerous animals and natural disasters made life uncertain. These fears are visible in the drawings and works of art from that time. But the threat of natural disasters is still current and is also depicted in contemporary work such as Katherine Bedford's 'Night Camp' (2023).
Ruling over nature
In response to that uncertainty, the desire to control nature grows. New land, new waters and also: new animal species. The dog next door barely looks like its distant relative, the dreaded wolf. In the second room, there is another remarkable object: a life-size horse by Louis Auzoux, once used in veterinary medicine to understand and understand nature.
Man as part of nature
In the final part of the exhibition, artists call for support for nature. For example, Raquel Maulwurf's enormous charcoal drawings revolve around the immense destruction that people inflict on their environment and about the indomitable forces of nature that oppose them. The recently deceased Abel Rodríguez had to flee his home in the Amazon due to war violence. Based on his memory, he made colorful, detailed drawings of nature in the rainforest, emphasizing the relationship with humans.
Munnicks van Cleeff collection
From the Biltstraat to the Utrechtse Heuvelrug and from Abcoude to Rhenen. Rarely shown 17th and 18th century drawings from the Munnicks van Cleeff Collection show you how the landscape of the province of Utrecht has changed. 'Signed, Nature' is a special opportunity to see over a hundred original works from this collection, consisting of more than 1,500 drawings and prints.
Listen and dive deeper
Let the sounds of nature guide you and capture your imagination.
Out and about together
Join a free guided tour on a Sunday afternoon or discover the green history of our museum garden during one of the monthly garden tours.
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Get moving
Experience how looking, listening and making can change your view on your surroundings and relationship with nature. Take part in a writing workshop, a Green Encounter, or roll up your sleeves during a nature volunteer day.
Highlights from our collection
In Signed, Nature some previously unseen works and recent acquisitions from our museum collection are on display.
Time travel through Utrecht
In honor of 650 years of the Province of Utrecht, we developed historic cycling routes with the province to places that played a key role in the shift in power. Along the way, you'll discover the region's rich medieval history using maps, stories and drawings from the Munnicks van Cleeff Collection. The routes are part of the program at “Signed, Nature”, where the Landbrief is featured in the first room.