Who painted Woody Landscape with Cattle and a Stream?

Woody Landscape with Cattle and a Stream was painted by Jacob van Ruisdael in 1665.

Where can I see Woody Landscape with Cattle and a Stream?

Woody Landscape with Cattle and a Stream is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Woody Landscape with Cattle and a Stream?

Woody Landscape with Cattle and a Stream is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Woody Landscape with Cattle and a Stream

Jacob van Ruisdael , 1665

Woody Landscape with Cattle and a Stream is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob van Ruisdael. It dates from 1665 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Jacob van Ruisdael’s oil painting, titled *Woody Landscape with Cattle and a Stream*, dates to around 1665 and is part of the collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work depicts a tranquil woodland scene where a small herd of cattle grazes beside a gently flowing stream, framed by a stand of trees and a fallen log that spans the water.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a pastoral setting, emphasizing the harmonious relationship between nature and domesticated animals. The cattle, positioned near the water’s edge, suggest a moment of quiet activity within an otherwise still landscape, inviting contemplation of rural life in the Dutch Golden Age.

Technique & Style

Ruisdael employs a restrained palette of earthy greens, browns, and muted blues, allowing the natural tones to dominate. Careful modulation of light and shadow creates a subtle chiaroscuro effect, giving the trees, water, and animals a three‑dimensional presence that guides the viewer’s eye through the scene.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid‑1660s, the painting entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s holdings through acquisition in the 19th century. Its provenance reflects the broader appreciation of Dutch landscape painting among British collectors during that period.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jacob van Ruisdael

Jacob Isaackszoon van Ruisdael was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, and etcher. He is generally considered the pre-eminent landscape painter of the Dutch Golden Age, a period of great wealth and cultural achievement when…