Dune Landscape,

ca. 1632

Van Goyen’s loose and rapid manner of painting, applying a few colors in a single layer, was both virtuosic and speedy, allowing him to paint hundreds of inexpensive works that were collected by both casual and knowledgeable art lovers. He developed many different types of landscapes, including dune landscapes like this one, which he produced primarily between 1631 and 1633. These works are characterized by a limited range of yellow, brown, and pale green tones that capture the moistness of the Dutch countryside; a low viewpoint, which emphasizes the naturalistic impression of the scene; a strong diagonal that leads the eye into the vast distance; and sunlight breaking through a cloudy sky, creating a backlit effect. This type of terrain was familiar to the inhabitants of Holland as a place for relaxing walks or amusing outings. Such pictures, with their scattered farmhouses and chatting peasants, would have provided the city folk with a comforting image of simple country life. Because the dunes protected the land against the sea, these works might have also conjured up the idea of God’s benevolence and grace.