Houses at a Canal 1652 - 1712

"Houses at a Canal" is a 17th-century painting by Dutch artist Jan van der Heyden, renowned for his detailed depictions of cityscapes. This small yet intricate oil painting, currently housed at the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, showcases van der Heyden's mastery of architectural perspective and atmospheric light. The painting depicts a canal flowing through a village, with houses lining its banks and a bridge spanning the waterway. The scene is rendered with precise detail, capturing the textures of stone, wood, and water. This work, created during van der Heyden's later years, reflects his evolving style, with a heightened focus on atmospheric effects and the play of light and shadow, typical of the Dutch Golden Age.