Artwork
Landschap met boerderij bij een plas
Landschap met boerderij bij een plas is an oil painting by the Hague School artist Johan Hendrik Weissenbruch. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Johan Hendrik Weissenbruch’s 1894 oil painting *Landschap met boerderij bij een plas* presents a tranquil rural vista. The composition centers on a modest pond that mirrors the subdued daylight, while a farmhouse and a pair of cattle occupy the right foreground. Tall trees frame the scene, their silhouettes merging into a pale, atmospheric sky.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures an everyday moment of agrarian life, emphasizing the quiet coexistence of nature and labor. A farmer guides two cows along a stone wall toward a small house, suggesting routine and stewardship of the land. The gentle illumination and reflective water convey a sense of calm and the passage of a late‑day light.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting employs soft, blended brushwork that unifies sky and foliage into a seamless veil of colour. The handling of light relies on thin layers of translucent paint, a glazing approach that yields a luminous, hazy effect typical of the Hague School’s tonal realism. The overall palette is muted, reinforcing the scene’s serenity.
History & Provenance
Created during the later phase of Weissenbruch’s career, the piece reflects his occasional turn to oil after a reputation built largely on watercolours. It entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s representation of Dutch landscape painting from the nineteenth century.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Hendrik Weissenbruch, also known as Hendrik Johannes Weissenbruch (born 19 June 1824 in The Hague – died 24 March 1903 in The Hague) was a Dutch painter of the Hague School. He is noted especially for his watercolours.
