two figures--one standing, rowing--in a small boat, LLC; figure walking down steps to riverbank in LRC; figures with a horse standing under a small open roofed structure at center, with one tall tree to right; another horse to right of tree; several buildings

River Landscape with Blacksmith at Work outside a Village, 1653

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As a young man, Jan van Goyen filled numerous sketchbooks with black chalk studies made outdoors in the Dutch countryside. Such extensive practice gave him extraordinary fluency as a draftsman. He was also an astute observer of everyday life, and here he brings alive the varied activity of a small but lively community—trade and transport, gardening and blacksmithery—all set on a low horizon beneath a towering sky. Lingering figures, reflections on the water, and slowly drifting smoke tell us that the weathered is mild, but gnarled trees tell us that this is not always so. Today, only the ring of the hammer pierces the calm.

Details
Title
River Landscape with Blacksmith at Work outside a Village
Artist Life
1596-1656
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2015.49
Provenance
Mme E. Warneck; Sale, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, 11 May 1905, no. 159. Sale Drouot, Paris, December 22, 1924, no 69. [Agnew's, London (no. 46447).] Tony Mayer. Sale, Drouot, Paris, December 3, 1957, lot 6. [W. Hallsborough, Ltd., London, exhibited May 1958 (according to Beck, I, p. 137).] I. Leib, London (according to Leiden and Arnheim 1960 exhibition labels). Eric Martin Wunsch (New York, 1924-d. 2013; his estate sale, Christie’s, New York, January 29, 2015, no. 49, for $52,500); [Bob Haboldt, Paris, 2015; sold to MIA]
Catalogue Raisonne
Beck, vol. I, no. 394.
Curator Approved

This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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two figures--one standing, rowing--in a small boat, LLC; figure walking down steps to riverbank in LRC; figures with a horse standing under a small open roofed structure at center, with one tall tree to right; another horse to right of tree; several buildings