Zandheuvel, mogelijk een duin c. 1888 - 1891

Willem Witsen made this drawing, titled 'Zandheuvel, mogelijk een duin', or 'Sand dune, possibly a dune', with black chalk on paper. The image shows the Dutch landscape, as an important part of the cultural heritage in the Netherlands. In the late 19th century, there was a renewed interest in depicting the Dutch landscape, often emphasizing its unique light and atmosphere. Witsen belonged to a group of artists, known as the Amsterdam Impressionists, who sought to capture fleeting moments and everyday scenes. They often focused on urban and rural landscapes. This artwork fits into a broader trend in art history of artists turning their attention to local environments. The institutional support for landscape painting through art academies and exhibitions helped promote this genre. To fully understand the drawing, further research into the cultural and artistic context of the Netherlands during the late 19th century would be needed.