THE SEWING CIRCLE - A painting of a group of people sitting around a table

De Hoog followed the Hague School, primarily a movement of realism, a reaction against the previous mood of romanticism. He was advocating the simple country life, a happy and innocent atmosphere where children play a major part. He painted many small pictures of the life of the country people, of the homes of the peasants, with the light shining through the ancient windows. De Hoog had a developed mind and excellent taste. In the simple appearance of the simple life of the Dutch people he discovered a beauty of thought which dictated his management of tone, he knew exactly the way to express the sentiment that was in him.