The Broad River

Art Historical Context

Allart van Everdingen1606–1675), a prominent Dutch artist of the Golden Age, captured the raw power of nature in *The Broad River*, an enchanting engraving from the first state of two. This intimate print, measuring just 3/4 × 6 3/16 inches, depicts a dramatic riverscape likely inspired by the artist's travels to Sweden and Norway in the 1640s. Van Everdingen pioneered the introduction of rugged Scandinavian landscapes—featuring turbulent waters, rocky shores, and misty atmospheres—into Dutch art, shifting tastes away from idealized Italianate scenes toward wild, northern wilderness. As an engraving, the work showcases meticulous technique: van Everdingen incised fine lines into a copper plate, inking and printing it to create rich tonal contrasts that evoke the river's forceful flow and textured banks. The "first state" denotes its pristine, unaltered form before any revisions, making it a rare collector's gem. Acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1970 through multiple funds, this print exemplifies 17th-century printmaking's role in democratizing art, allowing landscapes to reach wider audiences beyond oil paintings. Visitors will appreciate how *The Broad River* bridges personal exploration and cultural exchange, inviting us to ponder the timeless allure of untamed rivers in art.

About the Artist

Allart van Everdingen · 1621–1675

Allaert van Everdingen (1621-1675) was a Dutch Golden Age painter and printmaker who introduced Scandinavian landscape painting to the Netherlands. Born in Alkmaar and baptized on June 18, 1621, he pioneered a distinctive genre of Nordic mountain scenery that profoundly influenced Dutch landscape painting and later inspired the Romantic movement. Van Everdingen holds a unique place in art history...