Veduta di Haarlem con campi di sbianca

Ruisdael painted this view of his home town, Haarlem, around 1670, from a low dune that let him give almost two-thirds of the picture to sky. Down below, spread across the fields, are long pale rectangles. That is linen, laid out on the grass to bleach in the sun and open air. In the 17th century Haarlem was known across Europe for whitening cloth this way, and merchants sent unbleached linen there from as far off as Germany. On the horizon the tower of the great church of St Bavo rises over the roofs, ringed by windmills. Ruisdael made so many of these wide, sky-heavy Haarlem views that collectors gave them their own affectionate name, haarlempjes, little Haarlems.