Artwork
Landscape with waterfall
Landscape with waterfall is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Allart van Everdingen. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1650 by Dutch painter Allaert van Everdingen, this oil on canvas presents a tranquil woodland setting centered on a modest waterfall. The composition reflects the Dutch Golden Age’s interest in naturalistic scenery and is currently part of the Alte Pinakothek’s collection in Munich.
Subject & Meaning
The scene portrays a forested gorge where water cascades over rocky ledges. Figures are positioned near the falls—some seated on fallen trunks, others attending to horses—while a diminutive house with a fence rests amid distant trees and gentle hills, suggesting a harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature.
Technique & Style
Van Everdingen employs a nuanced chiaroscuro, using deep shadows to model trunks and cliffs and thereby create a convincing sense of depth. The waterfall is rendered with fine, white brushstrokes that suggest the fleeting motion of water, while the overall palette remains restrained, typical of mid‑17th‑century Dutch landscape painting.
History & Provenance
The work was produced during the height of the Dutch Golden Age, a period when landscape painting gained prominence. After changing hands among private collectors, the painting entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings, where it remains on public display.
Context
Van Everdingen, known for his dramatic forest scenes, often drew inspiration from his travels in Scandinavia. This piece reflects that influence, combining a realistic portrayal of a Germanic woodland with the compositional balance favored by Dutch artists of the era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Allaert van Everdingen (Dutch pronunciation: ; bapt. 18 June 1621 – 8 November 1675 (buried)), was a Dutch Golden Age painter and printmaker in etching and mezzotint.
