Ruisdael, View of Haarlem with Bleaching Grounds

Summary

In the Mauritshuis, The Hague, we explore Jacob van Ruisdael's renowned landscape of Haarlem, featuring the iconic Saint Bavo church. This 17th-century Dutch masterpiece is a 'skyscape' with clouds dominating the scene, reflecting the artist's love for the city. The painting's dynamic use of light and shadow guides the viewer's gaze through the landscape, while the artist's perspective, likely from a dune, captures the flat Dutch terrain. The canvas, with 70% dedicated to the sky, conveys a sense of weather and time, setting it apart from the idealized landscapes of its era.

Takeaways

• 🏞️ The painting is a landscape of Haarlem by Jacob van Ruisdael, housed in the Mauritshuis in the Hague, Netherlands.
• 🌟 The church of Saint Bavo is the recognizable feature that identifies Haarlem in the painting.
• ☁️ The painting is dominated by clouds, suggesting a 'skyscape' rather than a traditional landscape.
• 🖼️ The work is a portrait of the city, reflecting the artist's love and attachment to the place.
• 👨‍🎨 The landscape is a new type of painting in 17th-century Holland, focusing on a specific location rather than being subsidiary to other subjects.
• 🏞️💡 The painting may have been commissioned by the owner of linen works depicted in the foreground, which are fields for bleaching linen.
• 🌅 Ruisdael uses light and shadow effectively to draw the viewer's eye into the depth of the landscape.
• 🌄 The alternating planes of light and dark guide the viewer's eye through the painting, creating a sense of movement and depth.
• 🏖️ The artist likely painted from an elevated perspective, possibly a dune, as suggested by the sand in the foreground.
• 🎨 The painting was likely constructed in the studio, despite the tradition of artists sketching outside.
• ☁️🌬️ Seventy percent of the canvas is dedicated to the sky, capturing the dynamic movement and weather of the time.

Q & A

In which museum is the painting by Jacob van Ruisdael discussed in the script located?

The painting is located in the Mauritshuis in the Hague, Netherlands.

What is the subject of the painting by Jacob van Ruisdael mentioned in the script?

The painting is a landscape of the city of Haarlem.

What feature of the landscape in the painting helps to identify the city of Haarlem?

The church of Saint Bavo, which rises above the skyline, helps to identify the city of Haarlem.

How does the script describe the type of landscape painting by van Ruisdael?

The script describes it as a new type of painting in the 17th century in Holland, focusing on a specific place and being a portrait of a city.

What role does the artist's feeling and attachment play in the painting according to the script?

The artist's feeling and attachment are built into the portrait of the place, suggesting a personal connection to the landscape.

What is suggested about the possible commissioning of the painting in the script?

It is suggested that the painting may have been commissioned by the owner of the linen works visible in the foreground.

How does Jacob van Ruisdael use light and shadow in the painting?

Van Ruisdael effectively uses alternating planes of light and dark to draw the viewer's eye into the depth of the landscape.

What geographical feature might the artist be standing on to achieve the perspective in the painting?

The artist is likely standing on a dune, as indicated by the sand in the foreground, to achieve the elevated perspective.

What percentage of the canvas is dedicated to the sky in the painting?

Seventy percent of the canvas is given over to the sky.

How does the painting reflect the Baroque style of the 17th century?

The painting reflects the Baroque style through the dynamism within the static landscape, showing a sense of weather, time, and specificity.

What is unique about the landscape painting by van Ruisdael compared to Italian and French paintings of the time?

Unlike the idealized, classicizing landscapes of Italian and French painters, van Ruisdael's painting has a sense of weather, time, and specificity, capturing a real and dynamic scene.