Heuvelachtig landschap met twee rustende wandelaars 1798 - 1837

Ernst Willem Jan Bagelaar created this etching, *Hilly landscape with two resting walkers,* at the turn of the 19th century in the Netherlands. At first glance it seems a harmless scene, but landscape depictions during this period played a crucial role in shaping national identity and cultural values. They were a way of seeing and experiencing nature that reflected a particular ideology. The Romantics valorized the unspoiled, sublime aspects of nature. But here, the artist is not looking at the sublime. Instead, Bagelaar brings the viewer into an intimate scene, with ordinary people at rest, enjoying the quiet solitude of nature. By choosing to portray figures in the landscape, Bagelaar subtly comments on the role of humans within the natural world. To understand the cultural context, historical surveys and travelogues can provide rich insights into the relationship between landscape, national identity, and social change in the Netherlands at this time.