Walkers and horsemen in the Hague Forest, 1770 – 1800

About the Work

Depicted with layer over layer of body colour, the lush green treetops catch the rays of the sunlight falling on them from the side. While the split tree trunk in the foreground lends the forest a wild, primeval character, the many strollers distinguish it as a place of sociable recreation. It is not certain whether the drawing really shows the “Hague Forest”, as its traditional title claims. At any rate, that large Hague park was indeed a popular destination for outings in the late eighteenth century.