Figures on a Country Road

In an increasingly urbanized Netherlands, landscapes depicting the unique aspects of the Dutch countryside were especially sought after in the 19th century. Here, peasants pass through uncultivated land that supports only low growth with a few scattered trees. The scene of lonely paths lit by the rays of the waning sun is calculated to evoke pensive solitude.

Trained at the Hague art academy, Cornelis Westerbeek spent the rest of his career in the city. He was very successful in exhibitions in the Netherlands in the 1880s and 90s. Westerbeek was greatly praised for his landscapes depicting the heather districts of Holland, especially his sunsets as here.