Artwork
'Bij de wieg'
'Bij de wieg' is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Albert Neuhuys. It dates from 1899 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
One woman kneels beside the cradle in a posture of care, while the other stands behind, holding an open fan that suggests leisure or a social visit.
The painting depicts a quiet domestic scene centered on a cradle, where an infant lies swaddled while two women attend to it. One woman kneels beside the cradle in a posture of care, while the other stands behind, holding an open fan that suggests leisure or a social visit. The subdued interior, softened light, and the women’s absorbed attention emphasize themes of nurture and maternal solicitude.
The composition’s stillness and the muted palette underscore the intimate, private moment, aligning with late nineteenth-century Dutch genre painting conventions that idealized family life and child-rearing. The cradle itself functions as a clear symbol of infancy and protection, while the fan introduces a subtle note of cultivated sociability within the domestic sphere.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint on canvas, the work measures 78 cm in height and 90 cm in width. The handling reflects the muted palette and delicate brushwork characteristic of Neuhuys’s late nineteenth-century Dutch genre practice, emphasizing quiet domestic intimacy. The composition centers on a cradle scene rendered with restrained realism, where light falls evenly to articulate textures and volumes without overt drama. No specific condition statements are provided in the cited sources.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1897 by Albert Neuhuys, as indicated by its documented inception date.
By the time of its completion, ownership had passed to Jean Charles Joseph Drucker, who later donated the work to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it has been held since. The museum’s collection record confirms its presence there, listing dimensions of 78 cm in height and 90 cm in width.
The painting 'Bij de wieg' by Albert Neuhuys is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The work, created in 1897, is executed in oil on canvas and measures 78 cm in height by 90 cm in width. Historical records indicate that the piece was previously owned by Jean Charles Joseph Drucker.
The provided sources do not contain specific accession numbers or a detailed list of past exhibitions for this artwork.
Overview
Bij de wieg is an oil painting created in 1899 by Albert Neuhuys, a key figure associated with both the Laren School and the Hague School. The work captures a quiet, intimate domestic scene.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Johannes Albert Neuhuys (10 June 1844 – 6 February 1914) was one of the best-known painters of the Laren School and a friend of many of the Hague School painters.
