Landscape with waterfall

The waterfall occupies an important role in Ruisdael’s oeuvre. In his chapter on "Waterfalls, Torrents and Rushing Streams", Seymour Slive names 168 catalogued works with these motifs. These are not always mountainous or Allaert-van-Everdingen-style Scandinavian landscapes with the water falling from a great height. A slight difference in height can often transform gently flowing water into a gushing stream. In this "Landscape with Waterfall", a torrent rushes over the sloping terrain. The white foam shining in the sunlight contrasts with the dark water in the shadows, where the runnel flows over the rocks in wavelets. On the bank, the trunk of a split birchtree, partly in the water, reminds the viewer of the transience of life. Waldmüller’s copy is now listed in LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz-Vienna (inv. no. 1591).

Ducke Astrid: Jacob Isaacksz. van Ruisdael, Landscape with Waterfall, in: Ducke Astrid, Habersatter Thomas (Hrsg./Edi.): von | from 0 auf | to 100. Residenzgalerie Salzburg 1923-2023. Salzburg 2023, S./p. 206-207