The Edge of the Oak Wood 1666

Cornelis Gerritsz Decker made this painting of the edge of an oak wood sometime in the mid-17th century, using oil on canvas. It's easy to overlook the materiality of painting, yet Decker’s technique is evident in every brushstroke. Looking closely, you can see how he has built up the scene through layers of glazes, achieving a marvelous illusion of depth. The earth tones, greens, and blues, skillfully blended, create the atmosphere of a dense forest, hinting at nature’s power and plenty. In the 1600s, pigments were derived from minerals, plants, and even insects, each requiring careful processing and mixing to achieve the desired color and consistency. Decker would have ground his own pigments, combining them with linseed oil to create paint. The canvas, woven from flax, provided a receptive surface for his vision. Consider the labor that went into the production of this artwork, from the harvesting of raw materials to the artist's skilled hand. Decker, like many artists of his time, straddled the line between craftsman and fine artist, and paintings like this offer an entry point into that fascinating relationship.