Jan Josefsz van Goyen

Essay:

In his 1973 catalogue raisonné Hans-Ulrich Beck accepts this painting as a work by the hand of Jan van Goyen. However, in the next edition of his catalogue raisonné published in 1987 Beck appears to change his opinion and describes this painting as 'nicht überzeugend' (unconvincing). Having had the painting cleaned and examined we can with confidence claim that this is indeed an autograph work by the hand of van Goyen painted in 1633.

Van Goyen's style continually evolved throughout his life as he reacted to developments in landscape painting in the Netherlands. At the start of the 1630s van Goyen worked in a restricted 'tonal' palette of soft greens and browns for which he is perhaps best known, and painted simple landscapes of dunes, roads and rivers. The present painting is a typical example from this period. The diagonal composition provides depth and the viewer's eyes are encouraged to linger on the fisherman and the travellers along the muddy road.

Provenance:

Harry Koetser, London,
N. V. Kunsthandel van Gebr. Douwes, Amsterdam with a signed photograph of authentication of the painting dated 21 November 1938;
A. W. R. Baron Mackay of Blaricum, Holland (1907-1995) and thence by descent through the family.

Literature:

H.-U. Beck, Jan van Goyen 1596-1656, Ein Œuvreverzeichnis, Amsterdam, 1973, Vol. II, no. 1116, p. 490, (not illustrated).
H.-U. Beck, Jan van Goyen 1596-1656, Ein Œuvreverzeichnis, Amsterdam, 1987, Vol. III, no. 1116, p. 270, illus. p. 271 (as 'nicht überzeugend').

Exhibitions:

Gemeente Musea Van Amsterdam, 6 May 1942, according to a label on the reverse. Lent by Mr Berg, Amstelkade 169A, Amsterdam.
Gebr. Douwes, Amsterdam, Anniversary Exhibition, 1955, no. 26.