Artwork
Wooded Landscape with Figures
Wooded Landscape with Figures is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Cornelius van Poelenburgh. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the Mauritshuis.
About this work
Overview
Wooded Landscape with Figures, painted in 1630 by Cornelius van Poelenburgh, is a small-scale Dutch Golden Age painting depicting a serene Italianate landscape with figures.
Subject & Meaning
The scene portrays everyday life within a natural setting: a man stands on a rock near a stream, another sits nearby, while a woman, child, and sheep are visible in the distance, underscoring the harmony between human presence and nature.
Technique & Style
Van Poelenburgh employs chiaroscuro to create depth and atmosphere, with contrasting light and shadow. The small scale of the figures relative to the landscape emphasizes the beauty of nature.
History & Provenance
Created during van Poelenburgh's activity in Rome, the painting is now part of the Mauritshuis collection, reflecting his influence as a leading Dutch landscape painter of his time.
Context
This work represents the early 17th-century Dutch landscape painting movement in Rome, characterized by Italianate settings and contemporary/classical figures, as seen in van Poelenburgh's oeuvre.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis van Poelenburgh or Cornelis van Poelenburch (1594 – 12 August 1667), was a Dutch landscape painter and draughtsman.
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Wooded Landscape