View of Naarden

Dutch artist Jacob van Ruisdael painted this panoramic view of Naarden, a fortified town east of Amsterdam. The composition exemplifies his mastery of the Dutch panoramic landscape, with the town's distinctive star-shaped fortifications visible on the horizon.

Ruisdael's landscapes often feature dramatic skies that dwarf human settlements, emphasizing nature's power over civilization. The painting now hangs at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid. Naarden's fortifications, built in the 17th century, remain largely intact today and are among the best-preserved in Europe.