Landscape with Waterfall. Jacob Isaacksz van Ruisdael (c. 1628-1682), oil on canvas, c 1668. The tiny figures in this grand landscape with a rushing waterfall are almost lost. The composition is dominated by gnarled trees, barren tree trunks and rolling water. The dramatic cycle of nature's birth and decay is almost tangible. A church tower rises up in the distance like a beacon of peace. Photo via Newscom