Castle by a River 1647

Jan van Goyen created this evocative waterscape with oil on canvas. But it’s not just a record of a specific place. It tells us something about the relationship between Dutch society and its landscape. Consider the earthy pigments – ochres and umbers – which dominate the palette. These are not the costly blues and reds prized in earlier Renaissance painting. Instead, van Goyen uses a limited range of readily available colors, reflecting a pragmatic sensibility. The quick, fluid brushstrokes suggest efficiency; the artist was prolific, and likely had studio assistants to help him meet market demand. The scene itself shows people going about their daily lives, relying on the river for sustenance and transport. There’s a distinct lack of idealization. This focus on the everyday, rendered with humble materials and efficient techniques, reflects the values of a rising mercantile class. Van Goyen demonstrates the democratization of painting in the Netherlands, a shift away from courtly patronage towards a broader, more commercially driven art world.