Attributed to Salomon van Ruysdael (Naarden circa 1600-1670 Haarlem)

It has been suggested that this may be a preparatory study for Salomon's Landscape with deer hunters (circa 1630) in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (inv. 52.24). However, according to a note by J.G. van Gelder in the RKD, an attribution to Jan Coelenbier (1610-1680) should also be considered. Coelenbier was a left-handed artist working in the circle of Jan van Goyen, and the short strokes, slanting from upper left to lower right, in the present drawing are stylistically similar to the handling of his paintings. (For further information on Coelenbier's life and work, see H.-U. Beck, Künstler um Jan van Goyen, Doornspijk, 1991, pp. 52 ff.).

In a letter dated 21 December 1925, Jacob Rosenberg confirmed the attribution to Salomon van Ruysdael, dating it to circa 1630 when the artist's style was close to that of Jan van Goyen (1596-1656).