Jan Josefsz. van Goyen

Some very slight surface dirt, but overall condition good and fresh. Sold in a carved and gilded frame.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Van Goyen's earliest dated landscape drawings were executed in the early 1620s, and are characterised by their relatively large, strongly drawn and outlined figures, rendered largely in brush and wash, and their prominent signatures, usually incorporating the artist's full name rather than the monogram that he adopted in later years.  The present drawing, a relatively rare example of a dated work from the 1630s, exemplifies the transitional moment between these early drawings of the 1620s and van Goyen's much more familiar, mature style, with its more delicate, chalk-based technique, smaller figures, and less prominent signatures.