Heuvellandschap met een rivier c. 1811

Andreas Schelfhout’s “Heuvellandschap met een Rivier” is a landscape drawing of trees and a river. At first glance, the pencil marks may seem randomly placed, but a closer look reveals a deliberate composition. Schelfhout masterfully uses light and shadow to create depth, inviting us into the tranquil scene. The sketch displays an acute awareness of the structural and compositional principles that underscore landscape art. The tree stands as a focal point around which the rest of the landscape is organized, revealing an underlying structure that connects the various elements into a cohesive whole. The drawing prompts reflections on how landscapes are not mere representations but are constructed views that engage with our perception and understanding of nature. The sketch is not just about what is depicted, but how the depiction itself informs and shapes our aesthetic and intellectual experience of landscape.