Lot 1079 Rα

The finely painted landscape shows a popular and characteristic theme of Flemish art of the 17th century: A wooded landscape with peasants. In the centre a path, lined with tall trees, leads into the distance. One sees peasants in coaches, heywagons, and carts, returning from their work. At the wayside women talk with a wanderer. The composition reveal characteristic elements of Flemish landscapes. The pictorial space is divided diagonally in fore-, middle- and background that are characterized by brown, green and blue tones. While the tall trees in the fore- and middle ground reach the whole height of the composition, the left side offers a distant vista with a town. Such landscapes evoked a peaceful country life and were at the same time evidence of a pride about the native landscape. Peter Gysels was influenced by Jan Brueghel the Elder whose pupil he presumably was.