Jan van Goyen

Along a country lane lined by trees and cottages, a group of figures goes about their day. In the distance rises a church spire, hinting at a town nearby. Jan van Goyen composed this seemingly lifelike depiction of country life from different elements he sketched during his travels. The picturesque scene is animated by his distinctive technique: a profusion of short, quivering strokes, incisive contour lines applied with sharp chalk, and a gray wash, which creates softer tonal transitions and increases the painterly effect.