Norwegian Landscape with Waterfall

Ruisdael’s undated painting was probably done around 1665 as one of a series of pictures similar in structure, composition and format.
This is not a painting from nature, since Ruisdael never visited Scandinavia. We may assume that he adopted the motif of the rocky landscape with waterfall from Allart van Everdingen (1621–1675), who travelled through Scandinavia in 1644. The picturesque motif of the lofty fortress towering into the clouds recurs frequently in Ruisdael’s paintings of this period – probably inspired by his visit after 1650 (possibly accompanied by Nicholas Berchem) to the early mediaeval fortress in the district of Bentheim in Lower Saxony.
In his poetic landscapes, in keeping with the taste of the age, Ruisdael combines various set pieces into a picture, subordinating nature to aesthetic and allegorical principles: a picture should both delight and instruct. In many variations, the recurring motif of vanitas lies at the centre of the baroque world-view. The rushing water, carrying with it whole oak-trunks, may be seen as a symbol of the transience of earthly life. Rendering the dramatic torrent also sets a challenge to the artist’s painting technique.

OEHRING Erika: Ruisdael Jacob Isaacksz. van, Norwegian Landscape with waterfall, in: DUCKE Astrid, HABERSATTER Thomas, OEHRING Erika: Masterworks. Residenzgalerie Salzburg. Salzburg 2015, p. 56