Mountain Landscape with Ruins 1598 - 1608

Paulus Willemsz. van Vianen created this landscape with ruins using pen and brown ink, with a grey wash. The soft, blended quality of the wash gives the scene an ethereal atmosphere, while the pen lines add definition to the architectural ruins and foliage. The artist employed a subtractive method to bring out the lights, by brushing away layers of wet pigment, a demanding approach that relies on the artist’s deft hand. This combination of drawing and painting techniques would have been part of a standard artistic training. Yet, it’s important to note that the artist came from a family of silversmiths. This background surely influenced his sensitivity to the effects of light on form, not unlike the modulation of a polished surface. By considering the artist's background and the making process, we can appreciate the ways in which skills and techniques travel between different creative fields, challenging traditional distinctions between art and craft.