View in the Woods 1660 - 1690

Jan van der Heyden painted this View in the Woods using oil on panel, likely in the latter half of the 17th century. At this time, the Dutch Republic was expanding economically and exerting its power globally, a position visualized in art through both landscape and cityscape paintings. But unlike those genres which emphasize property and mercantile exchange, here we see a woodland interior absent of human presence or activity. The painting evokes a sense of tranquility, perhaps expressing a longing for nature at a time when the Dutch were rapidly developing urban centers. While seemingly straightforward, it’s worth noting that van der Heyden may have assembled this landscape from various sources. As historians, we can use estate inventories, maps and other documents to understand the various social and economic contexts that may have influenced the artist. These resources allow us to understand the ways art reflects and shapes the world around it.