Artwork
Bos met berkebomen
Bos met berkebomen is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Alphonse Stengelin. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1896, *Bos met berkebomen* is an oil painting by French artist Alphonse Stengelin. Executed within the post‑impressionist idiom, the work presents a quiet woodland scene dominated by birch trunks. It is part of the Rijksmuseum’s permanent collection and exemplifies Stengelin’s focus on natural landscapes.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a stand of birch trees, their pale bark contrasting with the subdued greens and browns of surrounding foliage. The arrangement of trunks receding into space conveys depth, while the sparse canopy allows light to filter through, evoking a sense of calm and the quiet rhythm of a forest interior.
Technique & Style
Stengelin employed oil pigments to achieve a layered surface that enriches the tonal range of the birches. Brushwork varies from broader strokes in the background foliage to finer, more precise handling of the bark’s texture, reflecting the post‑impressionist interest in color modulation and structural form.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered the market for French landscape works and was eventually acquired by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Its presence in the museum’s collection underscores the institution’s commitment to representing 19th‑century European art and the cross‑national appreciation of Stengelin’s forest scenes.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Alphonse Stengelin (1852–1938) was a French painter, engraver, and lithographer who spent much of his life working outside France. He is remembered mostly for his landscapes.
