Volendam, Holland, from the Zuidende

Forbes employed loose brushwork characteristic of impressionism, layering muted earth tones for the structures and road while using lighter greys for the overcast sky. This approach creates atmospheric depth, allowing the background to recede gently and reinforcing the painting’s serene mood through subtle tonal variations.

A Canadian-born artist who spent most of her career in Britain, Forbes painted this work during a period of extensive travel in Europe. After her time in the Netherlands, she settled in Newlyn, England, where she and her husband founded an art school, contributing to the region’s artistic community.

Forbes maintained close relationships with prominent figures such as James Abbott McNeill Whistler and Walter Sickert, whose aesthetic concerns are reflected in her handling of light and color. While she often included children in other works, this piece focuses on landscape, illustrating the breadth of her subject matter within the late‑19th‑century impressionist movement.