Artwork

Cottages by a River

Cottages by a River, by Jan van Goyen, chalk, 1628
Cottages by a River, by Jan van Goyen, chalk, 1628

Cottages by a River is a chalk drawing by the Baroque artist Jan van Goyen. It dates from 1628 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Cottages by a River is a drawing created by Jan van Goyen around 1628. It is executed in black chalk with touches of graphite on laid paper.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a riverside scene with a cluster of bare trees and bushes, a small building, and a river with boats in the background. The sketchy, unfinished quality suggests a focus on capturing the scene's essence rather than precise details.

Technique & Style

The loose, expressive lines and the use of black chalk with graphite touches contribute to the drawing's dynamic feel. The artist's emphasis on suggestion rather than precise rendering creates a sense of movement and energy.

History & Provenance

Jan van Goyen was a prolific Dutch landscape painter who produced over 1,000 drawings and around 1,200 paintings during his career. Cottages by a River is one of many river scenes he depicted, showcasing his interest in varied landscape subjects.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jan van Goyen

Artist

Jan van Goyen

Jan Josephszoon van Goyen (Dutch pronunciation: ; 13 January 1596 – 27 April 1656) was a Dutch landscape painter.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.