The Wheatfield

A very similar version to this work is in the collection of the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille, France, but there are fewer trees and figures in that work.

Dubois presents a countryside landscape with fields of golden wheat framed by an excess of trees and an overcast sky. A figure can be seen walking across the field on a well trodden path, while two other figures are walking away from the village. The church bell tower amongst the trees in the distance is featured in various paintings by the artist, as are various travellers animating the painting as they travel in their opposite directions. On the village pathway are two figures who find themselves sitting on the path, and look to be bargaining with a fellow traveller, while multiple other figures presented in shadowy hues suggests their dissent into the nearby village. The existence of multiple paintings with similar landscapes and architecture shows the artist's interest in nature study. 

Guillaume Dubois

Dubois worked as a landscape artist in the height of the Dutch Golden Age. Born in Haarlem, he was privileged in being surrounded by well known artists of the time, such as Jacob van Ruisdael. Dubois entered the Guild of Saint Luke in 1646, a city guild for painters and artists, alongside Vincent van der Vinne, Dirck Helmbreeker, Joost Boelen, and Cornelis Bega. He temporarily worked under the supervision of the master Abraham Cuyper. The artist worked in Germany with multiple members of the guild, and travelled through Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Darmstadt, and Mannheim between 1652-53. A number of Dubois' works have been falsely attributed to van Ruisdael.

Landscape painting flourished in the Dutch Golden Age, especially amongst painters and draftsmen, of which Dubois was both. Secular paintings such as this one suggested leisurely walks through the countryside perhaps as a desire to separate themselves from increasing urbanisation. The era of landscape painting moved away from those works with deep religious symbolism, and moved towards realistic depictions of country life. Although immediate religious symbols in this genre decreased, the allegorical association with nature and God remained. Depictions of realistic landscapes was a trademark of artists in Northern Netherlands, particularly Haarlem.

Museums
Rijksmuseum
Mauritshuis
Lille Museum
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Dulwich Picture Gallery