Wooded landscape with figures walking by a sandy bank

Jan Wijnants ca. 1635 - 1684

Summary

Large areas of reclaimed land, or polder, changed the natural coast of seventeenth-century Holland. The remaining original coastlines, with their sand dunes and picturesque villages, became popular areas for excursions. Artists such as Wijnants and Ruisdael captured their idyllic charm. Wijnants concentrated on painting the dunes and woods around Haarlem. Here the pale sandy bank is used to great effect, caught by the sun, which also reaches the top half of the young woman and the child's red cap. This is Wijnants' typical format: a high, sandy bank on one side and a flat expanse of landscape on the other, with a tree motif in the centre on the rise of land.

Display Label

Wooded Landscape with Figures Walking by a Sandy Bank Jan Wijnants active 1643 - 1684 Oil on canvas Large areas of reclaimed land, or polder, changed the look of the coastal areas in 17th century Holland. Some original coastlines remained with sand dunes and picturesque villages These became popular areas for excursions, and artists like Wijnants and Ruisdael captured the feeling of a rural idyll. Assheton-Bennett bequest 1979.517