Landscape with River and Three Figures
early 17th–mid 17th century
Medium
Pen and brown ink.
Dimensions
4 1/8 x 6 3/4 in. (10.4 x 17.2 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Walter C. Baker, 1971
Accession Number
1972.118.282
Tags
Art Historical Context
Jan van Goyen's *Landscape with River and Three*, created in the early to mid-17th century, captures serene beauty of the Dutch countryside during the Golden Age. A master of landscape art, van Goyen (1596–1656) pioneered the tonal style, emphasizing atmosphere and subtle light effects over precise detail. This small pen and brown ink drawing ( 1/8 x 6 3/4 in.) exemplifies his economical technique, using fluid lines to evoke a winding river, leafy trees, and three distant figures, blending human presence harmoniously with nature. As a preparatory sketch or standalone study, it reflects the Du...
About the Artist
Jan van Goyen · 1596–1656
Important Dutch landscapist known for his so-called 'tonal style'. Comment on works: Landscapes; Marines; Views.