Landschap met een hooimijt bij een boerderij 1645 - 1646

Pieter Moninckx created this landscape with a haystack near a farm using graphite. The composition is structured around a series of horizontal layers, starting with the foreground field, moving through the central band of trees and farm structures, and ending with the distant horizon line. Moninckx uses linear perspective and shading to define the scene and create an illusion of depth on a flat surface. Note how the hatching of graphite strokes not only defines forms but also suggests light and shadow, contributing to the pastoral atmosphere. The overall effect is one of understated naturalism. The haystack and surrounding trees are depicted with a level of detail that invites closer inspection, while the open field in the foreground draws the eye into the composition. The artist’s choice of a simple, unassuming subject matter invites reflection on the value of the everyday. While appearing conventional, the drawing gently destabilizes our expectations, prompting a deeper look at the beauty found in simplicity.