River Landscape with Sailboats 1637 - 1645

"River Landscape with Sailboats" (1637-1645) is a watercolor drawing by Dutch Golden Age artist Aelbert Cuyp, notable for its tranquil depiction of a river scene. The work showcases Cuyp's signature atmospheric perspective with a muted palette of browns and grays, subtly capturing the light of a hazy day. The boats with billowing sails sail across the river with figures in the foreground lending a sense of scale and human presence. The soft lines of the trees on the riverbank, the subtle brushstrokes on the water, and the overall sense of calm create a feeling of serenity and tranquility. This drawing is a remarkable example of Cuyp's mastery of landscape drawing and is now held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY.