Artwork
Bleachfields near Haarlem
Bleachfields near Haarlem is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan van Kessel the Elder. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
About this work
Overview
Bleachfields near Haarlem is a 17th-century painting by Jan van Kessel the Elder, created around 1650. It is a representative work of the Dutch Golden Age landscape tradition.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a bleachfield in the foreground with white fabric drying, and the Grote Kerk in Haarlem visible in the background. The scene reflects the period's interest in detailed topographical representations.
Technique & Style
The artist's use of muted colors and soft brushstrokes conveys a sense of tranquility. The gentle folds of fabric and the subtle play of light on the church steeple are highlighted through these techniques.
History & Provenance
The painting is now held in the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. It was created by Jan van Kessel the Elder, a Flemish painter active in Antwerp, who drew inspiration from earlier Flemish artists.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan van Kessel the Elder or Jan van Kessel (I) (baptized 5 April 1626, Antwerp – 17 April 1679, Antwerp) was a Flemish painter active in Antwerp in the mid-17th century.
Museum
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Continue through works from the same source collection.
View of Haarlem
Dunes near Haarlem
View of the Plain of Haarlem with Bleaching Grounds
The Bleaching Grounds near Haarlem
Bleaching Fields to the North-Northeast of Haarlem
View of Haarlem from the Northwest
View of Haarlem from the Northwest, with the Bleaching Fields in the Foreground
View of Haarlem with Bleaching Fields
Dutch Panorama Landscape with a Distant View of Haarlem