Attributed To Aert Van Der Neer (1603-1677) - River Landscape By Moonlight

Attributed to Aert van der Neer (1603–1677)
River Landscape by Moonlight

Oil on panel, 20.5 x 19 cm

Monogrammed lower left: "AvN"

Provenance:
Private collection, France

Aert van der Neer, a Dutch Golden Age painter, is renowned for his nocturnal landscapes and luminous scenes bathed in moonlight or reflections on water. This work is a characteristic example of his style, where the meticulous treatment of light creates an atmosphere that is both melancholic and poetic. The compact composition captures a moment of calm, with the moonlight softly illuminating the river, the sails of boats, and foreground details such as a solitary fisherman.

The panel reveals a masterful use of contrasts between dark areas and diffuse light, a technique Van der Neer refined throughout his career. The textured cloudy sky reveals a full moon that dominates the scene and reflects on the water, enhancing the serenity of the composition. The silhouettes of buildings and trees on the left, along with anchored or moving boats, root the scene in a quintessential 17th-century Dutch river setting.
This type of work demonstrates the influence of Dutch Baroque art, emphasizing the observation of nature and the exploration of atmospheric effects. Van der Neer moved in the same circles as artists like Jan van Goyen and Meindert Hobbema, but his specialization in nocturnal and winter scenes earned him a unique place among his contemporaries.

Although the attribution remains a subject of debate—suggested by the previous association with Adrian Van Drever—the monogram "AvN" and the quality of execution strongly support Van der Neer's authorship. Despite its modest dimensions, this painting exemplifies the artist's ability to transform an ordinary scene into a timeless evocation of tranquility and natural beauty.