Landscape with Ruins 1652

This oil painting, “Landscape with Ruins,” was painted in 1652 by Dutch artist Horatius de Hooch. The painting depicts a scene of crumbling ruins, likely remnants of an ancient structure, in a rural setting. The artist, who was only a year old when he painted this artwork, captures the atmospheric light and shadows of the scene with a great deal of precision. The ruins are surrounded by lush greenery and trees, adding a sense of tranquility and beauty to the otherwise desolate landscape. This work is currently housed in the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst. The painting’s gentle realism, attention to detail, and evocative use of light and shadow make it a beautiful example of Dutch Golden Age landscape painting.