Artwork
Rast auf der Hirschjagd
Rast auf der Hirschjagd is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Philips Wouwerman. It dates from 1662 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Philips Wouwerman’s 1662 work *Rast auf der Hirschjagd* is an oil painting that belongs to the Dutch Golden Age landscape tradition. Executed in the latter part of his career, the canvas captures a lively riverside setting populated by riders, fishermen, and a waiting cart. The composition is now part of the Alte Pinakothek’s permanent collection in Munich.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts a temporary pause during a deer hunt, with horsemen fording a shallow stream while others linger on the bank. A crumbling stone wall frames the left side, and a cluster of figures gathers beneath trees on the right, suggesting a moment of rest and social interaction amid the broader activity of the hunt.
Technique & Style
Wouwerman employs pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting bright highlights on the horses and riders with the darker tones of water and sky. This use of light gives depth to the figures and emphasizes movement. The sky, filled with heavy clouds and a distant mountain range, adds atmospheric tension to the otherwise tranquil riverside.
History & Provenance
A member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke, Wouwerman was renowned for his hunting and battle scenes. *Rast auf der Hirschjagd* entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings in the 19th century, where it has remained on display, illustrating the museum’s focus on Dutch Golden Age landscape painting.
Context
During the mid‑17th century Dutch artists often combined genre scenes with expansive landscapes, reflecting both everyday life and the country’s prosperity. Wouwerman’s work aligns with this trend, merging detailed figures with a broad natural setting, and showcases the period’s interest in narrative depth within landscape painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Philips Wouwerman (also Wouwermans) (24 May 1619 (baptized) – 19 May 1668) was a Dutch painter of hunting, landscape and battle scenes. He became prolific during the Dutch Golden Age and joined the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke.
