Artwork
A Man and a Woman on Horseback
A Man and a Woman on Horseback is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Philips Wouwerman. It dates from 1653 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition reflects the era's fascination with aristocratic pastimes and the integration of figure and landscape within a unified visual field.
The painting shows a man and a woman riding together on a single horse, the woman seated sidesaddle while the man controls the animal. Accompanying elements such as a boat, a tree and a bathing scene suggest a narrative of leisurely travel through a pastoral landscape. The juxtaposition of equestrian movement with domestic activities may symbolize harmony between public and private life, while the horse functions as a status marker in 17th-century Dutch culture.
The composition reflects the era's fascination with aristocratic pastimes and the integration of figure and landscape within a unified visual field.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1653 by Philips Wouwerman in Haarlem, this work is an oil painting applied to a wooden panel. The composition measures 30.8 by 41.3 centimeters and depicts a landscape scene featuring equestrian figures, specifically a man and a woman riding sidesaddle, alongside elements such as trees, a boat, and bathing figures. As a landscape genre piece, the artist used oil paints to render these subjects on the rigid support of the panel, a common practice for Dutch Golden Age works of this scale.
The handling of the medium allows for the detailed representation of the horses and surrounding natural environment characteristic of Wouwerman's output during this period.
History & Provenance
The painting A Man and a Woman on Horseback was executed in 1653 by Philips Wouwerman in Haarlem, rendered in oil on panel. After its creation the work passed into the possession of Leopold Koppel, whose ownership is recorded in the provenance. It subsequently entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains today.
The sources do not mention any specific commission or patron for the piece, nor do they provide an accession number or list any exhibitions in which it has been displayed.
Overview
This oil painting, titled A Man and a Woman on Horseback, depicts a bustling outdoor landscape. The composition features various figures and animals engaged in different activities. A central pair rides a white horse, with other individuals traveling by cart or moving on foot.
The scene is set under a dynamic sky, suggesting a specific moment in time and contributing to the overall atmosphere of activity.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Philips Wouwerman (also Wouwermans) (24 May 1619 (baptized) – 19 May 1668) was a Dutch painter of hunting, landscape and battle scenes. He became prolific during the Dutch Golden Age and joined the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke.
