Where can I see Landscape with a View Toward Haarlem (The Goldweigher's Field)?

Landscape with a View Toward Haarlem (The Goldweigher's Field) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Landscape with a View Toward Haarlem (The Goldweigher's Field)?

Landscape with a View Toward Haarlem (The Goldweigher's Field) is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Landscape with a View Toward Haarlem (The Goldweigher's Field)

Landscape with a View Toward Haarlem (The Goldweigher's Field) is an ink print by the Baroque artist Rembrandt. It dates from 1651 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Rembrandt van Rijn produced this landscape print in 1651, depicting a broad, level field that recedes toward a small settlement beside a river. The composition is anchored by a modest cluster of trees and shrubs in the foreground, while a church tower and a handful of buildings mark the distant town. The work is executed as a counterproof, a secondary impression taken from the same etched plate.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents an unembellished view of the Dutch countryside, emphasizing the relationship between cultivated land and the modest urban center that lies beyond. By limiting detail and focusing on the arrangement of light and shade, the scene conveys a sense of atmospheric space rather than narrative specificity, inviting contemplation of everyday rural life.

Technique & Style

Created through a combination of etching and drypoint on laid paper, the print displays Rembrandt’s characteristic handling of tonal contrast.

Created through a combination of etching and drypoint on laid paper, the print displays Rembrandt’s characteristic handling of tonal contrast. Loose, swift lines generate a sketch‑like quality, while areas of deep black juxtapose lightly marked sections, reinforcing depth. The counterproof nature of the impression means the image appears reversed and slightly less crisp than a primary pull, offering insight into the artist’s working process.

History & Provenance

The piece belongs to Rembrandt’s mid‑career period, when he frequently explored landscape subjects through printmaking. As a counterproof, it likely served as a test or reference for the artist rather than a final commercial edition. Its survival provides valuable documentation of Rembrandt’s experimental approach to etching and his interest in rendering natural light on paper.

Artist & collection

Artist

Rembrandt

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), known mononymously as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and draughtsman.