River View
Jan van Goyen, na ca. 1630
About this artwork
Jan van Goyen's *River View* (ca. 1630) captures the serene beauty of a Dutch waterway, painted in oil on panel measuring 63 x 98 cm. A master of the Dutch Golden Age, van Goyen (1596–1656) helped pioneer the tonal landscape style emphasizing subtle atmospheric effects over dramatic detail. Here, expansive skies dominate the composition, with muted earth tones blending seamlessly into misty horizons—a revolutionary technique that conveyed the fleeting moods of nature, influencing generations of landscape artists like his contemporaries in the Haarlem school. This work exemplifies van Goyen's economical brushwork, where broad strokes evoke vast distances and quiet river life, often populated by tiny figures engaged in everyday activities. Produced during the prosperous Dutch Republic, it reflects a cultural shift toward celebrating the familiar homeland amid economic booms in trade and reclamation of land from the sea. Acquired by the Rijksmuseum in 1946 through a bequest from Mrs. A.C.M.H. Kessler-Hülsmann—originally attributed to an anonymous master around 1650—this panel highlights the museum's commitment to rediscovering Golden Age gems. Visitors will appreciate its intimate scale, inviting contemplation of 17th-century Holland's tranquil waterways.