Landscape with a View toward Haarlem (The Goldweigher's Field)

Landscape with a View toward Haarlem (The Goldweigher's Field) by Rembrandt van Rijn, dated 1651, is a significant example of Dutch landscape prints from the mid-seventeenth century. Executed in etching and drypoint on laid paper, this work captures a broad, detailed panorama of the flat countryside looking east toward the city of Haarlem. The evocative nickname, The Goldweigher's Field, likely relates to the owner of the land depicted, Christoffel Thijsz, a goldsmith or "gold weigher" living in Amsterdam, whose property occupied the prominent, shadowed foreground.

Rijn’s mastery of printmaking is immediately evident in the nuanced effects achieved through the combination of etching and drypoint. The etching provides delicate, atmospheric lines defining the distant cityscape, the wind-whipped trees, and the expansive clouds that dominate the upper third of the composition. In contrast, the drypoint technique adds rich, velvety burr in the immediate foreground, notably highlighting the bank, fences, and small figures. The dramatic shift between the highly detailed, shadowed foreground and the hazy, distant view creates a profound sense of atmospheric perspective characteristic of the artist’s mature style.

This detailed landscape reflects the burgeoning interest in local topography that defined the Dutch Golden Age during the period 1651 to 1700. While known primarily for his deeply expressive portraits and biblical scenes, Rijn produced a highly influential body of landscape prints, demonstrating a transition from idealized compositions to more specific, realistic depictions of the local Dutch environment. The piece is considered one of the most celebrated examples of the genre from the era and is permanently housed in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to its historical importance and classification as a masterwork, the image is often made available for study through public domain initiatives.