Landscape with a farm building and the 'house with the tower'

Landscape with a farm building and the 'house with the tower' is a distinguished print created by the celebrated Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn around 1650. Executed on paper, this work exemplifies the artist’s mastery of graphic techniques, likely combining etching and drypoint to achieve rich tonal variations and expressive line work. During the 1640s and 1650s, Rijn turned his attention increasingly toward landscape, often depicting the quiet, expansive lowlands surrounding Amsterdam rather than imaginary or classical scenes.

This particular print captures a specific, recognizable location, featuring rural structures juxtaposed with the distinct architecture of the "house with the tower," a local landmark often included in Rijn’s depictions of the Dutch countryside. The composition is marked by a dynamic balance, drawing the viewer’s eye from the humble farm buildings in the foreground toward the striking vertical element of the tower structure rising in the distance. The careful modulation of shadow and light, a hallmark of Rijn’s style, conveys a profound sense of atmosphere and movement across the scene.

As an essential example of 17th-century Dutch prints, this impression resides within the esteemed collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It illustrates how Rijn transformed landscape printmaking from mere topographical documentation into an intimate, personalized form of artistic expression. Today, high-resolution documentation and metadata relating to this important work are often made available by the Rijksmuseum, ensuring that prints of this quality are accessible to scholars globally through public domain initiatives, furthering the study of Rijn's enduring graphic genius.