Travelers Awaiting a Ferry

The juxtaposition of steep mountains and peaceful river, combined with the foggy mist above the water, creates a mood of mystery and nostalgia. Philips Wouwerman has created a fanciful place. We know that such topography does not exist in the regions in which the artist worked. His evocative rendering combines the careful structure of Italian landscapes with precise markers to indicate specific depths (here suggested by different rocky outcroppings) with the atmosphere of an alpine scene. The white horse, seen in profile, occurs frequently in Wouwerman’s landscapes. The artist’s abbreviated name (PHILS.W.) and the date are inscribed on the lower left side of the painting.