Haarlem’s Crown of Clouds

Haarlem’s Crown of Clouds
Meteorology in the paintings of Jacob van Ruisdael
Presented at the convention “Air”, Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany, Bonn, Germany, 24. – 26. 10. 2002
Franz Ossing, GFZ
translation: Kari Odermann

Dutch landscape painting of the 17th century has gained a unique place in art history; for the first time landscape played a role of its own due to its realist naturalistic reproduction. However, the paintings have to be understood as compositions, composed of realistically reproduced elements, an “invented reality” of landscape.
In Ruisdsael's Haarlempjes we find highly accurate depictions of weather situations.

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