River Scene

Jan van Goyen

early 17th–mid 17th century

River Scene by Jan van Goyen

Medium

Black chalk, gray wash

Dimensions

6 5/16 x 10 3/4 in. (16.0 x 27.3 cm)

Classification

Drawings

Department

Drawings and Prints

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Gift of William Gretor, 1907

Accession Number

07.285.2

Tags

RiversTreesBoats

Art Historical Context

Jan van Goyen's *River Scene*, a delicate drawing from the early to mid-17th century captures the serene beauty of the Dutch countryside during the Golden Age. Rendered in black chalk and wash on a modest sheet measuring just 6 5/ x 10 3/4 inches, it depicts a tranquil lined with trees and dotted with—hallmarks of van Goyen's masterful landscapes. As a pioneer of the tonal style in Dutch art, he favored subtle monochromes to evoke atmosphere, light, and expansive skies, often sketching en plein air to study nature's fleeting moods. This intimate work exemplifies van Goyen's innovative approac...

About the Artist

Jan van Goyen · 15961656

Important Dutch landscapist known for his so-called 'tonal style'. Comment on works: Landscapes; Marines; Views.

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