Artwork
Domino-spelend vissers, genaamd 'Dubbel-blank'
Domino-spelend vissers, genaamd 'Dubbel-blank' is an oil painting by the Realist artist Petrus Van der Velden. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
The artist, originally from the Netherlands, created this piece before relocating to New Zealand, reflecting a focus on everyday life in his native country.
Petrus Van der Velden's 1890 oil painting, "Domino-spelend vissers, genaamd 'Dubbel-blank'", captures a quiet moment of leisure. This work exemplifies the realism movement, presenting a genre scene of figures engaged in a game of dominoes. The artist, originally from the Netherlands, created this piece before relocating to New Zealand, reflecting a focus on everyday life in his native country. It is presently housed in the Rijksmuseum collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts four individuals gathered around a small table, absorbed in a game of dominoes within a dimly lit interior. One participant is shown laughing, holding a domino, suggesting a moment of playfulness or triumph. A dog rests on the floor nearby, contributing to the domestic atmosphere. The figures are dressed in traditional Dutch attire, grounding the scene in a specific cultural context and emphasizing a focus on ordinary people and their simple pastimes.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, "Domino-spelend vissers" showcases the tenets of realism through its unidealized portrayal of a common setting. Van der Velden employs soft lighting, which selectively illuminates faces while leaving other areas in shadow, enhancing the intimate and slightly subdued mood of the room. The composition conveys a sense of a lived-in, somewhat unkempt space, further reinforcing the artist's commitment to depicting authentic, everyday existence rather than idealized scenes.
History & Provenance
Painted in 1890, this work by Petrus Van der Velden was created during his early career in the Netherlands, prior to his significant move to New Zealand where he spent a considerable portion of his artistic life. The painting is titled "Domino-spelend vissers, genaamd 'Dubbel-blank'" (Domino-playing fishermen, called 'Double-blank'). It is now part of the esteemed collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it represents a facet of Dutch genre painting from the late 19th century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Petrus van der Velden (5 May 1837 – 11 November 1913), who is also known as Paulus van der Velden, was a Dutch artist who spent much of his later career in New Zealand.
