Landscape with Figure Resting Under Tree by Stream n.d.

Jacob van Ruisdael made this drawing, Landscape with Figure Resting Under Tree by Stream, using pen and brown ink in the Netherlands during the 17th century. The Dutch Golden Age was a time of great economic and cultural prosperity, as well as intense social stratification. At the time, Dutch landscape painting served as a symbolic representation of national identity and pride but it also reflected the economic and social changes taking place in the country. The resting figure and the person crossing the bridge, invite us to reflect on labor and leisure. This image of an ordinary scene elevates the everyday. The period saw a surge in artistic production, with artists catering to a growing merchant class eager to display their wealth and status. The art market flourished, driven by the forces of supply and demand, with the art institutions playing a key role in shaping artistic tastes and promoting certain genres. To fully appreciate the art of Ruisdael, we have to look into archives, letters and other historical documents that shed light on the period in which it was made.