Duinlandschap met enige figuren 1708 - 1781

Pieter Idserts created this landscape drawing of dunes with several figures sometime in the 18th century using graphite or black chalk on paper. The work is dominated by the stark contrast of the white paper and the dark marks of the graphite. Idserts applied the material in a controlled manner, using the graphite to create a range of tones and textures. He seems to have blended it in places to create softer, hazy effects and the atmospheric perspective. Look at the way he’s built up the forms of the dunes with layers of short, overlapping strokes, giving them a sense of depth and volume. The landscape is sparse and open, with a few figures scattered throughout. Perhaps these are farmers or other members of the working class making their way across the terrain. The drawing seems to capture a specific moment in time, suggesting a connection between the figures and their environment. Ultimately, this work reminds us that even seemingly simple materials like graphite can be used to create complex and meaningful works of art that challenge traditional notions of what constitutes fine art versus craft.