Entrance to a Village
ca. 1665
Medium
Oil on wood
Dimensions
29 1/2 x 43 3/8 in. (74.9 x 110.2 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913
Accession Number
14.40.614
Tags
Art Historical Context
Meyndert Hobbema's *Entrance to a Village* (ca. 1665) captures the quiet charm of rural Dutch life during the Golden Age. Painted in oil on wood—a favored medium for its smooth surface and portability—this landscape depicts a sun-dappled path leading into a modest village, framed by houses and lush foliage. Hobbema, a master of the Dutch Baroque tradition and pupil of Jacob van Ruisdael, excelled in these intimate scenes, emphasizing everyday realism over grandeur. The artwork's significance lies in its meticulous detail and masterful use of light, which draws the viewer's eye along winding r...