Zittende man in een landschap met bomen c. 1811

Andreas Schelfhout created this pencil drawing, “Sitting Man in a Landscape with Trees,” now held at the Rijksmuseum. The composition is immediately striking: an enclosed woodland where the trees form a dense latticework. Light filters through the canopy in a diffuse glow, casting shadows that define depth and texture. The artist’s use of line is particularly significant. Schelfhout employs a variety of strokes, from fine, delicate lines to create soft foliage, to short, sharp marks that render the rough bark of the trees. This contrast in line work animates the scene, infusing it with a sense of movement and life. A man sits within this structural complexity. Schelfhout invites us to meditate on the relationship between humanity and nature. This drawing serves not merely as a representation, but also as a philosophical reflection on our place within the broader ecological structure. The drawing prompts us to consider how we interpret and engage with the natural world around us.