An artwork on Galleree from The Art Institute of Chicago.
About the artwork
Landscape with the Ruins of the Castle of EgmondJacob van Ruisdael (Dutch, 1628/29-1682)
1650–55
Holland
98 × 130 cm (38 7/8 × 51 3/8 in.); Framed: 101 × 131.5 × 8.6 cm (39 3/4 × 51 3/4 × 3 3/8 in.)
Oil on canvas
Potter Palmer Collection
['17th Century', 'dutch']
['landscapes', 'foliage', 'water', 'towers', 'clouds', 'rivers', 'trees', 'countryside', 'ruins']
['oil on canvas', 'painting', 'european painting']
['oil paint (paint)', 'oil', 'paint', 'painting', 'canvas']
['oil painting', 'painting techniques', 'painting (image making)']
['Essentials']
The deteriorating Castle of Egmond was a visible reminder of the Dutch struggle for independence: it was sacrificially destroyed during the revolt against Spain more than 80 years before Jacob van Ruisdael produced this painting. Landscape specialists like Van Ruisdael invoked Dutch patriotism by selecting sites representative of the republic, including ruins, windmills, and city views. Ruisdael distinguished himself by working on an unusually large scale and by imbuing his scenes with drama through low horizon lines and swollen clouds.
| attributed to Art Institute of Chicago under CC-By license
In the heart of the Dutch landscape, where the sky meets the earth at a delicate line of blue, stood the Castle of Egmond—a silent sentinel steeped in history. Once a proud fortress, it now lay in ruin, each crumbling stone a testament to a fierce struggle that had unfolded over eighty years prior. It was here, amidst the echoes of shattered dreams and defiance, that a battle for independence was fought against the looming shadows of Spanish rule.
As time flowed like the gentle streams winding their way through the verdant fields, the castle’s decay became a poignant symbol of resilience, reminding onlookers of the sacrifices made by those who dared to fight for their freedom. The jagged remnants of its walls seemed to whisper tales of bravery, of a people unbroken by the weight of oppression.
In 1670, Jacob van Ruisdael, a master of landscape, took up his brush, driven by a spirit of patriotism that coursed through the veins of his nation. He sought out sites that spoke volumes of the Dutch spirit, places where nature intertwined with history—ruins that inspired awe, windmills that danced with the breeze, and city vistas alive with life. In the exploration of his canvas, he endeavored to capture not just the beauty of the land, but the very essence of his people.
With each stroke, Ruisdael breathed life into his art, working on a scale that was remarkable for his time. He conjured scenes where the horizon dipped low, inviting the viewer's gaze to wander into the depths of a tumultuous sky. Swollen clouds, heavy with the promise of rain, often roiled above his landscapes, infusing them with a sense of drama that echoed the struggles beneath.
His paintings became more than just visuals; they were windows into the heart of a nation, a colorful reflection of a collective memory—the Castle of Egmond standing resolute in his works, silently urging every passerby to listen to its story and remember the courage that built a country, reclaiming its spirit one stroke at a time.
About the artist
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