Landscape with figures by a barn

Executed in 1637, this landscape is constructed along the receding diagonal of the riverbank, a dynamic compositional device that lowered the horizon line and allowed van Goyen to devote almost equal space to sky and landscape. The human element, which played such a prominent role in his early work, is given a subordinate role in this composition, with the focus given instead to the depiction of space, light and atmosphere. Van Goyen traveled restlessly around the Low Country during this period, and likely based his composition on sketches made during his travels around the countryside. The fluid brushwork and quickly rendered architecture and landscape is closely akin in feel to his sketchbook drawings. The use of the monochromatic brown tones, heightened with touches of green and yellow is typical of this period. This color palette was further developed and pared back as his career progressed.

Notably, in 1637 van Goyen took a brief hiatus from painting and seems to have tried to make his fortune by speculating in the tulip trade. The venture was an unmitigated disaster, causing van Goyen to lose a great deal of money. This is one of the few works van Goyen produced in that turbulent year. In the 1640s he was astonishingly productive and also intermittently active as an art dealer, auctioneer and estate agent.