Festivals and Films

The Dutch Wilderness

From 14 Mar 2011 to 19 Jun 2011

15 March - 20 June. The Rijksmuseum presents a collection of over 20 of its 17th century-drawings and prints of sand dune landscapes. Described by Huigen Leeflang, curator of prints at the Rijksmuseum, as "the birthplace of Dutch landscape art" the dunes acted like a magnet to 17th-century artists such as Rembrandt who sought both artistic inspiration and refuge from the towns and cities of what was at that time the most urbanised region in Europe.

The works on show portray the majestic but gentle nature of the dunes, as well as some more unusual scenes such as spectators gaping at a beached whale, and observing the linen bleaching process synonymous with Harlem, as captured in drawings by Hendrick Goltzius around 1600. Other landscape artists featuring in the show include Esaias van de Velde, Pieter Molijn, Claes van Beresteyn and Aelbert Cuyp.

Daily 07.00-20.00