A River Landscape with a Village
- Artist: Aert van der Neer
- Date: probably about 1645
- Medium: oil on wood
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is "A River Landscape with a Village" painted by Aert van der Neer. Notice how the light in this painting is so subdued, creating an atmosphere of early morning or evening. The silvery glow on the water and the deep shadows of the trees are typical of Van der Neer's style.
It's not clear exactly what time of day it is here, but I think you can get a sense that it might be just before dawn. The people in this village seem to be up early too - look at the horseman in the foreground, and the figure on the bank behind him, as well as the one in the boat towards the centre.
And then there's another boat, with its white sail almost invisible across the water from where we're standing. It's a beautiful scene, capturing a moment of quiet before the day gets underway.
See it in person
A River Landscape with a Village hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
