Niederländisch, um 1600

Klaus Ertz places the depiction in the neighbourhood of the Flemish landscape artist Jan Tilens (1589-1630). Tilens remained rooted in Antwerp throughout his overall artistic career. It is not known from whom he received his training; he joined the Guild of St Luke in 1612/13. He repeatedly worked on joint commissions with Frans Francken II, Hendrick van Balen and Hans Jordaens III, who were often responsible for the figural staffage. In the manner of Tielen, a wooded river valley is depicted here, winding in loops, often gradated in shades of green and blue, to the horizon. The terrain rises rapidly towards the centre of the picture. A group of travellers have taken a break in front of a bare rock face. Above their heads, the rock turns into dense tree growth, which spreads into the airspace on the left half of the picture.