View of the Valkhof in Nijmegen

About this artwork

Step into the serene world of Jan van Goyen's *View of the Valkhof Nijmegen* (ca. 1650), a masterful oil on panel measuring just 25.4 x 30.5 cm, now housed in the Rijks. This intimate landscape captures the historic Valkhof hill in Nijmegen, Netherlands—a site steeped in Carolingian history with its ancient palace ruins and the remnants of St. Martin's. Painted during the Dutch Golden Age, it reflects van Goyen's pioneering role in landscape art, transforming everyday vistas into poetic evocations of light and atmosphere. Van Goyen, a leading figure in the tonal landscape tradition, employed his signature monochromatic palette of earthy grays, browns, and subtle blues to create depth and mood. His economical brushwork and broken color techniques masterfully suggest vast skies, distant horizons, and the play of sunlight over water and ruins, drawing viewers into a contemplative tranquility. Oil on panel, a favored medium for such small-scale works, allowed for the fine detailing and luminous effects that made Dutch landscapes portable treasures for 17th-century collectors. This piece exemplifies the cultural shift toward celebrating native Dutch scenery amid prosperity and peace post-Eighty Years' War. It invites us to ponder how van Goyen elevated the "tonal" style, influencing generations and reminding us of Nijmegen's enduring legacy as a cradle of European history. A gem for quiet reflection in the Rijksmuseum's halls.