View of Leiden before 1649

Aelbert Cuyp made this panoramic view of Leiden with pen and brown ink, accented with a grey wash. The choice of materials is significant. While oil paint was the dominant medium for grand landscapes, Cuyp opted for the more immediate and portable technique of pen and ink. This suggests a different kind of engagement with the landscape, one that is more intimate and observational. The quick, fluid lines capture the essence of the Dutch countryside – the windmills, the canals, the low-lying fields. The grey wash adds depth and atmosphere, but also evokes a sense of the dampness and humidity that characterizes the region. Cuyp’s focus on the everyday details of the landscape – the humble windmills that powered the Dutch economy – reveals the close relationship between the land and the people who lived and worked on it. By emphasizing the materials and processes of making, we can appreciate the cultural and social context in which this drawing was created, challenging the distinction between fine art and craft.