The son of the painter Abraham van der Haagen, Joris grew up in Arnhem, but spent much of his career in The Hague. He was a master of the genre of landscape painting at the moment when the subject was emerging as an independent theme in art. Although his compositions are often bathed in a southern light, they are considered to be nearly topographically accurate renderings of the Dutch countryside. Haagen strove to depict the beauty and scenic diversity of his native country and his landscapes are characterized by classically balanced compositions, a delicate technique, and sensitive atmospheric effects.
