River Landscape with House on a Rocky Island

Despite the drawing's title, the monumental trees at the center are clearly the focus of the composition. Twisting sinuously, they seem more alive, more vital, and more organic than the diminutive human figures sprinkled throughout the scene. Isaac Major achieved his effects in watercolor without relying on an underlying pen or pencil sketch for guidance.

This sheet is one of a group of landscapes by Major called the "indigo" drawings, after the blue wash he applied with a brush. He envisioned the scene almost completely in monochrome. While a single color, blue, suggests the entire range of light, shadow, and color, he added touches of green, yellow, and reddish watercolor as appropriate.

The rugged terrain shows the influence of Roelandt Savery and Pieter Stevens, after whose works Major made a number of engravings. The black chalk squaring indicates that he may have made this drawing in preparation for a print, although none is known.