Landschap met boerderij 1634 - 1702

This landscape with a farm, by Jan Jansz. den Uyl II, was made around the mid-17th century, using pen and brown ink on paper. The artist has paid close attention to the textures of the scene, from the thatched roof of the farmhouse to the foliage of the trees. Look closely, and you'll notice the marks that capture the reflective surface of the water, the dense growth of plants, and the rough-hewn wooden fence. The skillful handling of the pen has transformed the scene into a series of delicate tonal gradations. What might not be immediately apparent is the amount of labor required to create such a piece, from sourcing the materials to the skilled application of ink on paper. These humble materials, combined with the artist’s labor and the subject matter, remind us of the inherent value in capturing the beauty and essence of everyday rural life.