Artwork
A Waterfall (Cascade)
A Waterfall (Cascade) is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan van Kessel the Elder. It dates from 1670 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a dramatic waterfall cascading through a wooded landscape, accompanied by a prominent tree that anchors the composition.
The work depicts a dramatic waterfall cascading through a wooded landscape, accompanied by a prominent tree that anchors the composition. This subject reflects the Dutch Golden Age fascination with untamed nature and the sublime forces of water, while the surrounding tree serves as a symbolic element of stability amid dynamic motion. The painting’s iconography aligns with 17th-century landscape traditions that emphasized detailed observation of natural phenomena, blending scientific interest with poetic reverence for the environment.
Technique & Style
A Waterfall (Cascade) is an oil painting executed on canvas, measuring 94 cm in height and 74.5 cm in width. The work depicts a waterfall cascading through a densely wooded landscape, rendered in a naturalistic style characteristic of Dutch landscape painting in the late 17th century. Its handling of light and atmospheric depth emphasizes the movement of water and foliage, reflecting the formal qualities of Jan van Kessel's mature period.
The painting was created in 1670 and remains on view at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it is part of the permanent collection.
The support is canvas, primed and stretched, with a fine weave typical of Dutch easel paintings of the era. The medium consists of oil paint applied in thin, translucent layers to achieve subtle gradations in tone and moisture. Brushwork varies from delicate, stippled foliage to broader, more expressive strokes in the waterfall, creating a dynamic interplay of texture and movement.
These stylistic choices contribute to the composition's sense of realism and immersive naturalism, aligning with the broader tradition of Dutch Golden Age landscape art.
History & Provenance
The work titled A Waterfall (Cascade) was created in 1670 by Jan van Kessel, as recorded in its internal cataloguing data. It is an oil painting on canvas measuring 94 cm by 74.5 cm, classified as a landscape. The painting entered the collection of Jacobus Salomon Hendrik van de Poll and later Henric Muilman before being acquired by the Rijksmuseum, where it remains held today.
The work was produced during van Kessel's mature period, reflecting his specialization in landscape subjects. Its creation history is documented through the artist's known activity in the 1670s, with the date 1670 cited as the year of inception.
The provenance chain begins with ownership by Jacobus Salomon Hendrik van de Poll and subsequently Henric Muilman, leading to its acquisition by the Rijksmuseum.
Jan van Kessel's painting A Waterfall (Cascade), created in 1670, is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The work is executed in oil on canvas and depicts a landscape featuring a waterfall and trees. Historical records indicate that the piece was previously owned by Henric Muilman and Jacobus Salomon Hendrik van de Poll before entering the museum's holdings.
The Rijksmuseum accession details the dimensions as 94 cm in height and 74.5 cm in width. No specific exhibition history is provided in the available sources.
Overview
Created in 1670, A Waterfall (Cascade) is an oil painting by Jan van Kessel the Elder, a Flemish artist working in Antwerp during the mid‑17th century. The work belongs to the Dutch Golden Age landscape tradition and is presently part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan van Kessel the Elder or Jan van Kessel (I) (baptized 5 April 1626, Antwerp – 17 April 1679, Antwerp) was a Flemish painter active in Antwerp in the mid-17th century.
