Description of the painting by Rembrandt Harmens van Rijn “Landscape with a stone bridge”

Description of the painting by Rembrandt Harmens van Rijn Landscape with a stone bridge

“Landscape with a stone bridge” – a picture that contains in itself all the features of the style of the author. The contrast of colors, the combination of light and darkness in such a way that the light seemed even more natural, and the darkness – deeper and all-consuming, the description of the plot, characteristic of ordinary people – all this characterizes this canvas.

In the center of the work a bridge is depicted around which the entire surrounding composition is built. A simple stone bridge is weakly consecrated from the upper side, from the lower side it is darkened as much as the whole environment. This seemingly simple element is a link between the whole components of the picture: it connects not only the coast, but also the sky with the earth. To the right of the bridge, there are few simple rural houses, practically shacks, near which there is a human figure. In the central part of the picture we can observe two dark figures of fishermen swimming in a boat. Probably anticipating the bad weather, they are in a hurry to go home.

The lightest place of the picture among the riot of harsh dark colors is the oak, richly consecrated by the sun. Light as if penetrates the branches of trees, causing a silent admiration for the beauty and harmony of nature. Masterfully mastering chiaroscuro, the legendary artist managed to so subtly convey the duet of light and darkness, that a person looking at the canvas gets the impression of being involved in what is happening and the unchanged proximity to nature.

It seems that the man himself is in the locality in front of the bridge, covered like a dome, with a dark, gloomy sky, on the eve of the storm that pierces the soul to the very depths. The unchanging beauty of nature, subtly conveyed by the master of the pen, gives a feeling of joy from existence and the opportunity to contemplate the beauty of being.


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Description of the painting by Rembrandt Harmens van Rijn “Landscape with a stone bridge”