Velde, Adrian van de – stopover Hermitage ~ part 03

Magnificent!
The clouds are fading, the summer sky is slowly dimming, but a white horse – unexpectedly bright in the rays of the setting sun – compels you to look closely at whats happening on the canvas.
The birds have already fallen silent; you can only hear the horse shifting its hooves on the edge of the forest, and then theres the quiet voice of a woman and the flute playing of her companion.
The wealthy rider doesnt rush to leave, although his friend clearly wants to move on as quickly as possible. He turns away from the poor peasants, demonstrating his indifference to their requests. Or perhaps hes a servant, patiently waiting for his master?
The rider enjoys the simple melody of the flute and wouldnt mind listening to the complaints of a young mother. Her baby is wrapped in rags, and her breasts are exhausted. The woman doesnt ask for alms; she humbly asks the gentleman for help. He is interested in the couples fate, so he stops on his journey, questioning the peasant woman about her difficult life. Meanwhile, her husband continues to play the flute, and the melody is as calm and thoughtful as the surroundings at sunset on a summer day.
The house in the background of the painting adds to its completeness. The dog on the peasants leash, his hat, a couple of cows in the distance, the flute – all this would suggest an idyll, but the villagers clothing is too poor, the cows are thin, and the house is gloomy and low. Nevertheless, the entire painting exudes peace, and it seems that you can hear the steady murmur of a stream, even though we dont see it on the canvas.
The dark crown of the tree stands out clearly against the backdrop of clouds illuminated from one side and patches of blue sky. Soon the sun will set below the horizon, and in the twilight, the rider and his companion will continue their journey, leaving behind the poor peasants who have received generous alms.