An Evening View near a Village
- Artist: Aert van der Neer
- Date: about 1650
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
An Evening View near a Village by Aert van der Neer. This painting is one of many landscapes created by the Amsterdam-based artist, who was particularly skilled at capturing scenes at dawn and dusk.
Notice how the dead tree and stumps in the foreground guide our gaze to them, as does the red dress of the milkmaid against the deep green background. A silvery thread of light reflects off the path running down to the muddy foreshore and then the winding creek beyond, leading us to a distant sailing boat and tiny windmill on the skyline.
The town and church stand to the right, with what seems to be a moated country house to the left. These are likely not depictions of real places, but an arrangement created by Aert van der Neer in his studio for pleasing effect.
What's really interesting is how this painting gives depth to the scene through the meandering line of light, connecting us with the far horizon and subtly dividing the landscape into two halves. The tranquil mood here is quite a departure from some of Aert van der Neer's other works, which often feature turbulent skies.
See it in person
An Evening View near 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.
