Artwork
Aufbruch aus dem Lager
Aufbruch aus dem Lager is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Philips Wouwerman. It dates from 1666 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1666 by Dutch artist Philips Wouwerman, *Aufbruch aus dem Lager* illustrates a bustling departure from a military or hunting camp.
Created in 1666 by Dutch artist Philips Wouwerman, *Aufbruch aus dem Lager* illustrates a bustling departure from a military or hunting camp. The composition places a group of riders and foot soldiers around a solitary tree in the foreground, while a distant, cloud‑filled sky crowns a rugged, mountainous landscape. The painting captures a moment of organized movement within a natural setting typical of the Dutch Golden Age.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays men on horseback preparing to leave a temporary encampment, suggesting themes of transition and collective endeavor. Figures are shown in various poses—riding, standing, or seated—conveying a sense of coordinated activity. The presence of the tree may serve as a focal point, anchoring the scene and emphasizing the human‑animal interaction central to the narrative.
Technique & Style
Wouwerman employs a balanced palette of earth tones punctuated by bright highlights on the horses’ coats, creating depth through chiaroscuro. The brushwork renders the foliage and distant mountains with atmospheric softness, while the foreground figures are rendered with finer detail, enhancing the illusion of motion. The composition’s horizontal sweep and layered planes reflect the compositional conventions of 17th‑century Dutch landscape painting.
History & Provenance
A member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke, Wouwerman was a prolific producer of hunting and battle scenes during the Dutch Golden Age. *Aufbruch aus dem Lager* was painted toward the end of his career, exemplifying his mature handling of group dynamics and landscape. The painting’s later ownership records trace its movement through European collections before entering its current public display.
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.
