An Autumn Landscape with a View of Het Steen Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640)

Description of Peter Rubens’ painting "The Castle of the Walls"

After the great Flemish painter Rubens acquired the Castle of the Walls in 1635, a new period in the painter’s oeuvre began, which has been called the Wall. The painting "Castle of the Wall" refers to this very period in the artist’s work.

Walking around the castle and being inspired by the picturesque surroundings, Rubens concentrates on landscape works. Rubens’ favorite landscapes were canvases in which he depicted peasants - sturdy and healthy people who loved physical labor. The painting shows that the Flemish painter treats working people with deep respect, which was a rarity at the time.

The famous castle of the walls, in which he felt like a rural aristocrat, is depicted in the painting on the left - it survives to this day. Rubens lovingly painted the Flemish landscape, which always turned out very colorful and varied on his canvas. The sun in the painting rises in the east, which allows us to conclude that morning time of day is depicted. The yellowing plants in the foreground tell us that the artist has depicted autumn.

Rubens loved nature with awe, and he could easily make the monotonous and dull landscape of Flanders cheerful and colorful by adding freshness and light to it. The Flemish painter was a true patriot of his homeland.

In Castle of the Wall, Rubens masterfully depicted the horizon, the expanse beyond it, the hills and valley with the village, the herd of cattle with the shepherd.

Unlike the classicists, Rubens conveys the dynamics of nature and the whole surrounding world, the beauty and fascination of his native land.

The picture is painted with enthusiasm, it has a personal character, the scenes are strongly felt. The canvas is done with confident, precise brushstrokes with creative energy and passion. One gets the feeling that the painting radiates light and brightness. The painting evokes in an enthusiastic viewer a sense of optimism and joy of being.