Dolmen van Rondossec aan de kust bij Plouharnel 1851 - 1887

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande made this etching, "Dolmen van Rondossec aan de kust bij Plouharnel", in the late 19th century. At this time, there was growing archaeological interest in ancient sites throughout Europe, with the megalithic structures of Brittany drawing particular attention. Van 's-Gravesande, working within the tradition of Dutch landscape painting, depicts the dolmen not merely as a historical artifact, but as an integrated part of the natural landscape. As a painter, etcher and lithographer, he captured the mood and atmosphere of the site in nuanced detail. He was a member of the Pulchri Studio, and the Dutch Etching Club, organizations which advocated for the elevation of etching to the status of an independent art form, rather than just a means of reproduction. He was a traditionalist with a modern sensibility, often working en plein air. This work reflects an intersection of artistic and historical interests, inviting us to consider our relationship with the past and how we engage with cultural heritage.