Figures on the Anthoniesdijk Entering Houtewael [verso]

The masterful drawing Figures on the Anthoniesdijk Entering Houtewael [verso] by Rembrandt van Rijn, dating to 1650, exemplifies the artist’s prolific skill as a draftsman during the height of the Dutch Golden Age. This particular work, classified as a drawing, was executed using reed pen and brown ink on light brown washed laid paper. The utilization of the reed pen allows Rijn to achieve a spontaneous, robust quality in his lines, typical of his mature drawing style. This technique gives the depicted figures and the setting an immediate, energetic feel, contrasting the delicate wash employed to define the atmosphere and topography of the scene.

Created during the expansive period spanning 1601 to 1650, this drawing reflects Rijn's deep engagement with the local landscape surrounding Amsterdam. The Anthoniesdijk was a known physical marker near the village of Houtewael, and here Rijn captures travelers traversing this established route. While the composition is seemingly straightforward, documenting human activity along a dike, the execution elevates the piece beyond simple topography. Figures on the Anthoniesdijk Entering Houtewael [verso] is a key example of the artistic sophistication achieved by Dutch masters in seemingly mundane subject matter, capturing both intimate, transient moments and the vastness of the northern European terrain.

This piece demonstrates the fluency Rijn maintained across various media throughout his career. While celebrated globally for his etched prints and oil works, his drawings provide direct and unmediated insight into his compositional thoughts and working methods. The work resides within the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art, preserving a crucial record of 17th-century Dutch artistic practice. Due to its age and historical importance, high-resolution images of this masterwork are frequently available in the public domain, allowing scholars worldwide to study the technique of the era’s foremost draftsman.