Artwork
Het Herepad in het Haagse Bos
Het Herepad in het Haagse Bos is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Paulus Constantijn la Fargue. It dates from 1778 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. This painting presents a tranquil segment of the Haagse Bos, a forested area on the outskirts of The Hague.
About this work
Overview
This painting presents a tranquil segment of the Haagse Bos, a forested area on the outskirts of The Hague. A narrow footpath, known locally as the Herepad, winds through the trees, while a broader cart track runs along the left edge of the composition. The work exemplifies the artist’s focus on precise, site‑specific representation rather than idealised scenery.
Subject & Meaning
The central element is the Herepad, a pedestrian route traditionally used by residents for leisurely walks. By foregrounding this modest path amid the surrounding woodland, the artist highlights everyday interaction with the landscape, suggesting a quiet, familiar experience of nature rather than a dramatic or mythic vision.
Technique & Style
Executed with meticulous attention to detail, the painting records the spatial arrangement of trees, foliage, and pathways with a topographical accuracy characteristic of the La Fargue workshop. The subdued palette and careful rendering of light convey a realistic atmosphere, while the compositional balance between the cart track and footpath underscores the artist’s methodical approach to landscape documentation.
History & Provenance
Created by a member of the La Fargue family, known for producing accurate depictions of Dutch locales, the work reflects the commercial demand for reliable visual records of specific sites in the 18th‑century Netherlands. It now forms part of a collection that documents the region’s historical geography, offering insight into the period’s cartographic and artistic practices.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Paulus Constantijn la Fargue, also Constantine Paul Lafargue, (The Hague, 5 January 1729 - 10 June 1782) was a Dutch painter, etcher and draftsman.
