Goldweigher's Field

This etching from Rembrandt features a landscape view of the Dutch region of Bloemendaal and was completed in 1651. The finished piece derives from an earlier drawing and many prints were produced from it, many of which still exist today.

The title of Goldweigher's Field is actually an incorrect summary of the land shown here. Jan Wtenbogaert was nicknamed The Goldweigher and appears in several Rembrandt portraits, but is not believed to have been the owner of the region shown in this landscape artwork. In fact, it is the Saxenbury estate owned by Christoffel Thijs that appears in front of us, but the reason for the confusion has never been uncovered. Philips Koninck was a related artist of that period who produced a similar work from approximately the same angle and this helped to highlight the innaccurate title given by Rembrandt. The most recognisable building within both scenes would have to be St Bavochurch of Haarlem, a construction from 1245 that still remains there today.

During this period in European history, very few buildings would actually reach up higher than the trees that lined the town's streets. This made for a picturesque image where nature and the touch of humanity would live together fairly well in tandem. Only the church would reach up above and that would be for the purposes of symbolism as well as the practical purpose of reminding others of their need to follow the right moral path. Rembrandt would have been sit on or around the dunes of this region, looking down on the picturesque town and the various agricultural estates that surrounded it. The whole atmosphere is a mile away from this artist's expressive masterpieces, where drama and tension would come to the fore. See the likes of Return of the Prodigal Son and Night Watch for examples of that.

The original drawing can now be found at the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam. They offer a delightful selection of North European art which continues to retain its academic respect as well as a considerable following within the public. You will discover some notable Bosch paintings here, as well as perhaps its biggest highlight - The Little Tower of Babel by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Aside from that, several more recent artists are also included which helps to keep the collection connected to the present and future, including Surrealist Rene Magritte who helped to refresh our minds in how we think about Belgian art.