Landscape with a Square Tower by Rembrandt van Rijn

Landscape with a Square Tower 1650

drawing, print

tree

drawing

toned paper

ink painting

print

pencil sketch

landscape

charcoal drawing

possibly oil pastel

coloured pencil

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

mixed medium

watercolor

"Landscape with a Square Tower" is an etching created in 1650 by the Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn. This small print, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, features a picturesque countryside scene with a prominent square tower dominating the horizon. The composition showcases Rembrandt's masterful use of light and shadow, which creates a sense of depth and atmosphere. The tower, seemingly a ruin, stands out against the soft, hazy sky, while the foreground is filled with simple cottages and a winding path. This print, characteristic of Rembrandt's later landscape etchings, reveals his fascination with capturing the tranquility and beauty of nature.

Comments

rijksmuseum over 1 year ago

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The tower in this print has been identified as the square belfry of the church in Ransdorp: unsurprisingly, for this village northwest of Amsterdam was (and is) easy to recognize by its tower. However, Rembrandt did not depict a specific place here. The hilly landscape in which he set the building alone does not reflect the flat polder in which this village is located. He often included imaginary elements in his landscapes.