Country House near the Water 1646

Jan van Goyen's "Country House near the Water" (1646), a quintessential example of the Dutch Golden Age's fascination with landscapes, depicts a tranquil scene of a house situated on a canal. The artist's signature loose brushstrokes capture the muted tones of the overcast sky and the reflection of the water. The composition, with its emphasis on the interplay of light and shadow, provides a realistic portrayal of Dutch rural life. The painting is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.