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Hobbema was Jacob van Ruisdael's most important follower and his only documented pupil. In the beginning the influence of the older master is unmistakable. In 1663 Hobbema's style gained more independence and, during this and the following years up to 1668, he created a series of masterpieces which gave him an outstanding position side by side with Ruisdael among the great landscapists of Holland.
Hobbema's favoured motifs are sunny forest scenes opened by roads and glistening ponds, fairly flat landscapes with scattered tree groups, and water mills. He had a special love for the last named subject; almost three dozen paintings of his water mills are known.
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