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A Cottage in the Woods by Meindert Hobbema

Meindert Hobbema · 1662-01-01

"A Cottage in the Woods" by Meindert Hobbema, painted circa 1662 and now at The Cleveland Museum of Art, is a classic example of the serene woodland scenes for which this Dutch Golden Age painter is known. Yet, Hobbema's life was far from the calm depicted in his canvases.

Look closely at the dappled light filtering through the trees and the winding path leading into the forest. Hobbema's meticulous detail in depicting nature, from the textured bark to the thatched roof of the distant cottage, reveals his mastery of the landscape genre.

A pupil of the renowned Jacob van Ruisdael, Hobbema specialized in these "sunny forest scenes opened by roads and glistening ponds." Despite his talent, he achieved little recognition in his lifetime. After 1668, he took a job as an exciseman and largely stopped painting. It wasn't until the late 18th century, nearly 100 years after his death, that his work began to gain the widespread appreciation it holds today.

It makes you wonder how many other great artists remained unknown in their own time.

Details

He trained under Jacob van Ruisdael, a famous Dutch master.
He trained under Jacob van Ruisdael, a famous Dutch master.
Hobbema specialized in these sunny forest paths and cottages.
Hobbema specialized in these sunny forest paths and cottages.
But he was not famous during his lifetime, or for a century after.
But he was not famous during his lifetime, or for a century after.
Most of his works come from the 1660s.
Most of his works come from the 1660s.
After 1668, he became an exciseman, and painted very little.
After 1668, he became an exciseman, and painted very little.
Transcript

This painter, Meindert Hobbema, was a master of quiet woodland scenes. He trained under Jacob van Ruisdael, a famous Dutch master. Hobbema specialized in these sunny forest paths and cottages. But he was not famous during his lifetime, or for a century after. Most of his works come from the 1660s. After 1668, he became an exciseman, and painted very little. His true fame began 100 years after he stopped painting.