Landscape c. 1656

drawing, paper, ink

drawing

ink painting

dutch-golden-age

landscape

paper

ink

genre-painting

This detailed pen and ink drawing, “Landscape”, created by Jan van Goyen in c. 1656, captures the beauty of the Dutch countryside. Van Goyen, known for his masterful depiction of landscapes, utilizes fine lines and subtle shading to portray a village scene with a group of figures gathered in front of a building, and a church spire in the distance. The drawing’s intimate size and the artist’s use of light and shadow create a sense of tranquility and peacefulness, reflecting the charm of the Dutch landscape. The Minneapolis Institute of Art houses this piece.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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The village buzzes as people have come in from the country to attend a small market fair. Horse drawn wagons block the road, which is lined with vendors standing over their baskets of produce. Children and adults take part in the activity. The inn has hung out its greens to remind all that refreshments are available. Jan van Goyen was among the most prolific landscape draftsmen of Holland’s Golden Age. He remained productive until his death in 1656, the year of this drawing. Here as in most of his work, he seems to revel in the picturesque character of scruffy buildings, floppy hats, and unmanicured vegetation—all captured in his quick shorthand notations.