Landscape with waterfall and pine trees
Jacob van Ruisdael·1660
Historical Context
Landscape with Waterfall and Pine Trees from around 1660 combines the northern cascade motif with the distinctive forms of evergreen trees. Pine trees reinforced the Scandinavian atmosphere of these imaginary northern landscapes. Working from prints by Allart van Everdingen who had visited Scandinavia, Ruisdael constructed convincing cascades using fluid, energetic paint handling for the white water and dense impasto for mossy rocks. These proto-Romantic subjects prefigure the Sublime landsca...
Technical Analysis
The dark pines frame the white water of the cascade with strong tonal contrast. Ruisdael's rendering of evergreen foliage and churning water creates a scene of northern natural drama.
