Old Trees along a Bank c. late 1640s

This drawing by Jacob van Ruisdael, known as "Old Trees along a Bank," is a masterful example of his meticulous attention to detail and atmospheric rendering of the Dutch landscape. Created in the late 1640s, the work showcases his mastery of the black chalk technique, using subtle shading to evoke the textures of the trees and the rippling surface of the water. The composition, dominated by a group of imposing trees along the bank of a tranquil stream, captures the quiet beauty of the Dutch countryside, a recurring theme in Ruisdael's oeuvre.