Sandhills with Figures

A humble human encounter on a coastline track illustrates the harsh realities of seventeenth-century Dutch life. A man in a red coat and wide hat trots along on his horse, his dog nearby, and turns towards an approaching figure. This bearded man, in rough brown clothes and holding a staff, extends his hand in a pleading gesture for charity. His companion sits on the sandbank behind, her eyes downcast and her arms folded quietly in her lap. Though rendered with loose, quick brushstrokes, her expression appears to be one of sad resignation. A small basket of belongings lies next to her, while on her other side a dog looks on hopefully. A third man, who approaches the group, looks away and towards the water - perhaps in a bid to ignore the exchange unfolding before him.

This painting, by the Dutch artist Pieter Wouwerman (1623-1682), is a companion painting to Sandbank with Travellers. Pieter followed in the footsteps of his renowned older brother, Philips Wouwerman (1619-1668), in both style and subject matter. The diagonal composition, cloudy sky and landscape peppered with figures, dogs and horses, were all staples of the Wouwermans' practice. Paintings by the Wouwerman family garnered great popularity beyond the artists' lifetimes. Dulwich Picture Gallery’s founders, Noel Desenfans (1744-1807) and Francis Bourgeois (1753-1811), had a dedicated ‘Wouwerman Room’ in their London house and the pair of paintings appear for the first time in the 1813 inventory of Bourgeois’ collection.