Resting at a Tavern
Jan van Goyen was a master of the 'tonal landscape,' using a restricted menu of browns, greens, and greys to capture the damp, cloudy mood of the Dutch countryside. Here, a massive, twisting tree dominates the right side, acting like a curtain pulling us into a rustic scene where travelers pause at a thatched-roof tavern. Notice how the sky takes up almost two-thirds of the view—a classic Dutch trick to show off those dramatic, rolling clouds. Van Goyen was a total workaholic who painted over a thousand landscapes, often sketching outside and finishing them with lightning speed back in his studio.