Heuvellandschap met een bomengroep c. 1811

Andreas Schelfhout drew "Heuvellandschap met een bomengroep" using graphite. The image is located at the Rijksmuseum. Schelfhout produced this landscape during the Dutch art scene of the 19th century, where the push for distinct national identity was strong in art. This drive grew from the shadow of the Napoleonic era. Artists sought to represent the unique character and qualities of the Netherlands. Schelfhout's landscapes are part of an effort to define Dutch identity through its environment. His landscapes are sparsely populated, often lacking signs of labor, and instead emphasize the natural and picturesque. There is an emphasis on open space with few figures. It prompts a sense of solitary contemplation and connection to the land. By depicting the Dutch landscape in its serene, natural state, Schelfhout's work invites us to consider the relationship between national identity and the natural world. It also reflects an emotional and personal connection to the land.