Artwork
The village of Midlum
The village of Midlum is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Abraham Beerstraaten. It is held in the collection of the South African National Gallery.
About this work
Overview
The village of Midlum is an oil painting by Dutch Golden Age artist Abraham Beerstraaten, created in 1900. It depicts a winter scene in a Dutch village, showcasing daily life amidst a frozen landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a serene winter moment in Midlum, with inhabitants engaging in ice skating, walking, and gathering by a frozen river lined with bare trees, buildings, and a prominent church steeple. The scene conveys a sense of communal life during the season.
Technique & Style
Beerstraaten employed a palette dominated by blues, browns, and whites to evoke the chill of winter. The use of chiaroscuro adds depth and contrast, characteristic of the Dutch Golden Age's emphasis on light and shadow.
History & Provenance
Abraham Beerstraaten, son of painter Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten, was influenced by travels through Friesland, Groningen, and Holland. The painting is now part of the Iziko South African National Gallery's collection.
Context
As a work of the Dutch Golden Age, The village of Midlum aligns with the period's fascination with everyday life and winter landscapes, reflecting the artist's specialization in such scenes.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Abraham Beerstraaten (1643 in Amsterdam – 1666), was a Dutch Golden Age painter of winter scenes.
View of the church of Sloten in the winter
Skating at Sloten, near Amsterdam
Winter Landscape with Skaters
Winter Landscape
Frozen river with skaters and strollers
Rink
River View in Winter
The Oosterhuis in Antwerp
Skaters on the Y in front of Paalhuis and the Nieuwe Brug in Amsterdam
Skating on the Frozen Amstel River