View of Haarlem with Bleaching Grounds

In this painting, Van Ruisdael captured the essence of the Dutch landscape. From a high dune, we look out over the flat land in the direction of Haarlem, the city in the distance. Above the city stretches an immense sky with clouds drifting by.

Van Ruisdael paints the sun shining between the clouds, alternating light and shade. He directs our gaze deep into the painting along the patches of sunshine, from the fields where linen is spread out to bleach to Saint Bavo’s Church in the distance.