Artwork
Wooded Landscape with a River
Wooded Landscape with a River is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist P. Coiffre. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created in 1660, this work by P.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1660, this work by P. Coiffre presents a quiet river winding through a densely wooded setting. The composition balances foliage on either bank with a calm waterway that draws the eye inward, establishing a sense of peaceful natural order. The painting resides in the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is displayed among other 17th‑century landscapes.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures a pastoral environment where trees frame a gently flowing river, suggesting a harmonious relationship between land and water. The tranquil atmosphere invites contemplation of nature’s quiet rhythms, while the absence of human figures emphasizes the landscape’s self‑contained serenity. The work reflects a period interest in idealized, unspoiled countryside vistas.
Technique & Style
Coiffre employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting illuminated foliage with deeper shadows to model forms and convey atmospheric depth. A restrained palette of earth tones and muted greens creates texture across the canopy and water surface. The handling of light across the scene enhances the illusion of space, while delicate brushwork suggests the texture of bark and rippling water.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings as part of its 19th‑century acquisition of Baroque landscape works. Little documentation exists regarding its earlier ownership, but its attribution to Coiffre aligns with stylistic traits common among mid‑17th‑century French landscape painters. The museum’s cataloguing confirms its date of execution as 1660.
Artist & collection
Artist
A Dutch artist who painted 17th-century landscapes, P. Coiffre specialized in sweeping mountain views and quiet wooded rivers. He captured places like the craggy Alps under stormy skies in *Landscape with Mountains and…
