Wooded Landscape 1615 - 1620

Alexander Keirincx painted this "Wooded Landscape" with oil on copper sometime in the first half of the 17th century. During this period, landscape painting was not simply about representing nature. These paintings often reflected the cultural values and social hierarchies of the time. The very act of depicting land naturalized emerging ideas of property, ownership, and national identity. Keirincx, who was favored by Charles I of England, likely understood the power of landscape to evoke status and belonging. The play of light and shadow might invite us into a space that feels both inviting and impenetrable. What is included, and what is left out, creates a sense of place, a subtle declaration about who belongs and who does not. "Wooded Landscape" is more than just trees and light. It's a window into how land, identity, and power were intertwined in the 17th century.