Sandy Track in the Dunes c. 1650 - 1655

Jacob van Ruisdael made this small landscape painting, "Sandy Track in the Dunes", using oil on wood. Oil paints are made from pigment, often derived from ground minerals, mixed with linseed oil. Ruisdael would have carefully layered thin glazes to create the luminous atmosphere. The smooth wood panel allows for incredible detail, as seen in the textures of the foliage and the sandy track itself. The painting offers a glimpse into the Dutch countryside, a world increasingly shaped by human activity, where land was reclaimed and managed for economic purposes. In other words, Ruisdael is not just showing us a scene, but a system. We can see this in the way the road cuts through the dunes, suggesting a connection between rural life and emerging urban markets. This composition reminds us of the way human intervention shapes even the most natural landscapes. Consider how the seemingly simple materials of paint and panel can convey complex relationships between nature, labor, and the burgeoning Dutch economy.