Jan van Goyen: Virtuoso, Innovator, and Market Leader

Abstract

This article is a translation from the original Dutch, which first appeared in the catalogue for the exhibition Jan van Goyen (Stedelijk Museum De Lakenhal, Leiden, 1996). The essay examines the “strategies” regarding style, subject matter, technique, and price level that Jan van Goyen appears to have used to position himself in the art market. In particular, it discusses the radical change in style and the continuous innovations that Van Goyen introduced into his landscapes as he became a market leader. The Postscript offers insight into the origin and aim of the essay and refers to relevant information that emerged after the initial publication date.