Landscape with Waterfall, Jacob Isaacksz van Ruisdael, c. 1668
oil on canvas, h 142.5cm × w 196cm More details
The tiny figures in this grand landscape with a rushing waterfall are almost lost. The composition is dominated by gnarled trees, barren tree trunks, and roiling water. The dramatic cycle of nature’s birth and decay is almost tangible. A church tower rises up in the distance like a beacon of peace.