Wheatfields by Jacob Isaacksz van Ruisdael

A brief analysis of the painting Wheatfields by Jacob Isaacksz van Ruisdael, painted around 1670.

Wheatfields is a largish landscape depicting the final stage of a man’s journey home to be met by his wife and child. The title may at first reading seem to be somewhat of a misnomer since more than half of the picture area is represented by the sky and the subject matter appears to be the reuniting of a family. However the title does reflect the setting and is given prominence by the brightness of the fields themselves.

The artist’s viewpoint is mildly elevated, causing him to look down on the foreground and giving the impression of being slightly above the characters on the roadway – though sharing the same path.

The painting is lit by the evening sun from the artist’s left and is set in early autumn when crops are fully grown and the leaves on the trees are turning brown.

The vanishing point lies around the gap in the wall and can be determined by following the lines of the roads, the edges of the wheatfield on the left and the coastline on the left. The right hand area gives fewer clues to the vanishing point.

Beyond the golden yellow of the field, the colour range is fairly narrow; the foreground consisting mainly of brownish greens and the top two thirds limited to blue, white and shades of grey.

Tonal range is wider. There is lightness in the sky and the fields, and the viewer’s eye is drawn to the lightness of the path separating the man and his family and the building partly obscured by the trees – showing us his route and ultimate destination. Other areas of the painting are relatively dark though not sufficient to obscure their detail.

In terms of effect, the painting suggests a homecoming. Though we cannot see the faces of the woman and child we must assume they are pleased to see the returning man since they have troubled themselves to come to meet him. He doesn’t appear to be wearing a worker’s clothing and is carrying a large parcel, suggesting that he may have been away for some time.