A Waterfall in a Rocky Landscape
- Artist: Jacob van Ruisdael
- Date: probably 1660-70
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is "A Waterfall in a Rocky Landscape" by Jacob van Ruisdael, painted around 1660. Van Ruisdael was known for his dramatic views of waterfalls, and this painting showcases the force and power of rushing water. The waterfall pounds against the bridge's legs as it tumbles down between them, creating an intense white foam where it foams over the stones.
The artist has painted the rocks in great detail, showing how the water has worn away their edges. Beyond the bridge, the cliff face catches the sun, warming the lichen clinging to each block of stone. In contrast to the rugged landscape, a tiny oak sapling on the edge of the foam is seemingly at the mercy of the torrent.
Van Ruisdael's use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth in the painting, drawing our eye up to the dark, threatening clouds that gather overhead. The painting was once considered a pendant to another work by van Ruisdael, but it was later discovered that this second picture was actually painted by his cousin, Jacob Salomonsz. van Ruysdael.
See it in person
A Waterfall in a Rocky Landscape 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.
