17th century is known as the Golden Age of Dutch painting, during which both the country and the arts prospered. Dutch Golden Age painting had a profound impact on many artists and writers from the 17th century up to modern day (including Marcel Proust and Donna Tartt), as well as on a number of photographers.

Dutch landscape painting is especially interesting. It usually is a composite, fantasy image of archetypal Dutch landscape, easily recognizable even in today’s Netherlands: windmills, dunes, canals full of boats, people skating on ice in winter. The air is filled with moisture, and the sky dominates the composition.

A landscape by an anonymous 17th century Dutch painter is now on display in Massandra palace. The 17th century was the period during which many brilliant painters were active, such as Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, Frans Hals, Johannes Vermeer, Pieter de Hooch, Jan Steen, Gerard Terborch, Jacob Isaakszoon van Ruisdael, Willem Cornelisz Duyster, Paulus Bor, Jan Lievens, etc.

In the foreground of the painting there is a waterfront overgrown with weeds. Two fishing boats can be seen further away on the water. A path runs along the waterfront that leads to the woods. A man and a woman are standing on the path. The man is wearing a wide-brimmed hat, a dark coat, a white shirt and a dark waistcoat. The woman him is wearing a bright red blouse, a dark skirt and a white apron. A basket is placed next to her on the path.

It is fall, judging by the color of leaves, and the low, gloomy sky fully covered in white and gray clouds. Barely visible up in the sky are the contours of four birds. Further away and partly covered with clouds are low mountains.

The painting came from the storage rooms of Alupka museum palace to Massandra palace after it had reopened as a museum in 1992. It had previously arrived to Alupka in 1957.