Am Wasser ein Dorf, vorn Hirten mit Vieh, auf dem Wasser ein Kahn, rechts eine Windmühle 1651

Jan van Goyen created this drawing, titled *Am Wasser ein Dorf, vorn Hirten mit Vieh, auf dem Wasser ein Kahn, rechts eine Windmühle,* with pen in brown ink. The sketch captures a rural landscape where the artist skillfully employs line and composition to define space. The horizon line sits midway, balancing the earth and sky. Notice how the muted brown ink is used to delineate the forms of the village, the figures, and the natural elements. Van Goyen creates depth through subtle variations in line thickness and density, suggesting atmospheric perspective. The composition is carefully structured, with the village acting as a central anchor, flanked by open water and fields. The subtle tonality contributes to the overall mood, evoking a sense of tranquility. It reduces the landscape to its simplest forms to capture a sense of place that feels at once familiar and timeless.