Nature is always a great motive. Open air vs vegetation, light, the feeling of temperature, sunlight and rain, are contributing to feelings and assosiations. Landscapes embraces us, takes us into their sphere.
Shen Zhou: Parting at the Jing river
Rembrandt: Three trees
Rembrandt: The stone bridge
Balthus: The triangular field
All these images are so good. The humans and buildings in the pictures are small in comparison to the landscape, reminding us how tiny we are and the beauty of the space around us. Rembrandt, the painter of light and shadow takes his mastery into these images. Balthus divides the canvas into geometric forms and lines and beautiful colors, the man walking towards the horse an important focus point in this very poetic painting.