View of Emmerich

Jan van Goyen’s deceptively simple paintings record remarkably realistic impressions of weather, space, and the shifting interactions of land, water, light, and air. He worked with swift, intuitive brushstrokes and a limited range of colors: gray, brown, cool blues, and earthy greens. The artist often went on sketching trips along the Rhine River, visiting cities such as Arnhem, or the German city of Emmerich, depicted here. In the foreground, a shallow boat ferries passengers and horse-drawn wagons across the river.