Fishermen hauling a Net

This painting is a companion piece to another painting by van Goyen, also in the National Gallery's Collection: 'A River Scene, with a Hut on an Island'. In the centre of the landscape in the far distance is a windmill and on the right, a church. The location has not been identified.

The paint and ground are very thin, so that the vertical grain of the wood is visible. The umber-coloured ground is exploited to great effect in the rapid handling of the sky, which contrasts with the linear style of the details of the boats and figures.

Other paintings in this group: Two River Scenes

A River Scene, with a Hut on an Island from Two River Scenes

Jan van Goyen

1640-5