Jan van Goyen (1596–1656) was a highly prolific Dutch landscape painter of the Baroque period, specializing in the Dutch Golden Age landscape style known as Tonalism. Born in Leiden, the son of a shoemaker, he apprenticed with several masters before a pivotal year with Esaias van de Velde in Haarlem solidified his career path. Van Goyen eschewed the high color and anecdotal detail of earlier art for a direct, realistic depiction of the Dutch countryside, dominated by vast, low-horizon skies. His works, such as View of Dordrecht and his many river and dune scenes, are characterized by a restricted, almost monochromatic palette of muted greens, browns, and grays, which emphasizes the subtle atmospheric effects of light and air—a style that translates beautifully into the measured tonality of a counted cross stitch design. Stitching a Van Goyen piece is an act of quiet contemplation, allowing you to capture the serene, light-filled atmosphere of 17th-century Holland, turning his loose, rapid brushwork into a timeless, textural masterpiece for your home.