Artwork
Oaks at a lake with Water Lilies
Oaks at a lake with Water Lilies is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob van Ruisdael. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Its composition balances topographical detail with compositional harmony, characteristic of Dutch Golden Age landscape painting.
Jacob van Ruisdael's Oaks at a lake with Water Lilies depicts a lakeside scene dominated by oak trees alongside water lilies. The work combines naturalistic landscape elements with symbolic references to Dutch environmental identity, reflecting 17th-century interpretations of water and forest ecosystems. Its composition balances topographical detail with compositional harmony, characteristic of Dutch Golden Age landscape painting.
The painting measures 116.60 cm by 142.20 cm and was created in 1650 in Haarlem. It portrays an oak tree and Nymphaeaceae (water lily family) within a lake setting, rendered in oil on canvas. Originally owned by Charles Sedelmeyer and later William Wells, it is now housed in the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
Technique & Style
Oaks at a lake with Water Lilies is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for Jacob van Ruisdael's mid-century landscapes. The work is classified as a landscape painting and was produced in Haarlem in 1650. Its large format, measuring 116.60 by 142.20 centimeters, allowed Ruisdael to elaborate the wooded lakeside motif with the detailed foliage, reflective water surface, and atmospheric depth typical of his mature Dutch landscape style.
The composition centers on oak trees set against a lake scattered with water lilies, with dunes visible in the background, subjects the artist handled through layered glazes and fine brushwork characteristic of seventeenth-century Dutch oil technique.
History & Provenance
Jacob van Ruisdael created the oil painting Oaks at a lake with Water Lilies in 1650. The work was produced in Haarlem and measures 116.60 cm by 142.20 cm. Historical records indicate the painting was once owned by William Wells and later by Charles Sedelmeyer. It is currently held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.
The painting Oaks at a lake with Water Lilies is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin. Created in 1650 by Jacob van Ruisdael, the work measures 116.60 cm in height and 142.20 cm in width. Historical records indicate that the piece was previously owned by Charles Sedelmeyer and William Wells before entering its current institutional home.
The provided sources do not contain specific inventory numbers or a detailed list of exhibitions for this artwork.
Overview
Jacob van Ruisdael’s early landscape, painted around 1650, presents a tranquil lakeside scene dominated by ancient oak trees. The composition balances a calm water surface with a sky mottled by passing clouds, creating a sense of quiet natural harmony. Executed in oil, the work now belongs to the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.
Context
During the 1650s, Dutch artists increasingly turned to naturalistic depictions of the countryside, emphasizing atmospheric effects and the quiet dignity of everyday scenery. Ruisdael’s focus on oak trees and reflective water aligns with this trend, illustrating his interest in the subtle variations of light across a serene environment.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacob Isaackszoon van Ruisdael was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, and etcher. He is generally considered the pre-eminent landscape painter of the Dutch Golden Age, a period of great wealth and cultural achievement when…
