River Landscape with a Ferry near a Farmhouse

River Landscape with a Ferry near a Farmhouse, a painting by Salomon van Ruysdael, dates from 1653. It is part of the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands Art Collection. The painting measures 0.8 meters in width and 0.523 meters in height.

The artwork depicts a tranquil river scene at either dawn or dusk. The sky is filled with soft, muted clouds, predominantly gray and beige, with hints of blue breaking through. In the foreground, a flat-bottomed ferry carries several people and two cows across the river. One person poles the ferry. On the left bank, a thatched-roof farmhouse sits nestled amongst trees. More trees line the riverbank, creating a lush, natural border. In the distance, a small town or village is visible, with church spires suggesting a peaceful, rural setting. The overall mood is serene and atmospheric, characteristic of Dutch landscape painting of the period.