Who painted Under the Palms?

Under the Palms was painted by Alexander Hugo Bakker Korff.

Where can I see Under the Palms?

Under the Palms is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Under the Palms?

Under the Palms is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Under the Palms?

Museum-quality prints of Under the Palms are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Under the Palms by Alexander Hugo Bakker Korff

About this work

Subject & Meaning

This juxtaposition imbues the work with a comedic undertone, marking a rare instance of emotional engagement in the artist's typically restrained oeuvre.

The painting depicts two elderly unmarried women seated at a small round table within a Dutch interior, gazing upward in admiration at a simple potted palm plant. The composition utilizes chiaroscuro to highlight the figures' expressions and employs a pointillé technique for the carpet, emphasizing the detailed, dated clothing and antique furnishings that characterize the scene.

Iconographically, the palm serves as an exotic intruder into the protected, cozy Biedermeier household, symbolizing the women's isolation from the outside world. The title references lines from a poem by Heinrich Heine about sinking under a palm tree, creating an ironic contrast between the romantic ideal of a grand life and the dusty, petty-bourgeois existence of the subjects. This juxtaposition imbues the work with a comedic undertone, marking a rare instance of emotional engagement in the artist's typically restrained oeuvre.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1880, this small-scale work is an oil painting on panel measuring 17.5 by 14 centimeters. The artist applied a refined technique characterized by meticulous attention to detail and the rendering of fabric textures, drawing comparisons to the style of Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier. Specific handling includes the use of a pointillé technique for the carpet and the application of light from above to create extra gloss on the furniture surfaces.

The composition employs muted color tones accented by chiaroscuro, particularly within the figures' faces. Stylistically, the piece presents a frontal view of the subjects within a Dutch interior, combining realistic depiction with an underlying ironic or comedic tone regarding the figures' exaggerated admiration of the central palm plant.

History & Provenance

Alexander Hugo Bakker Korff executed the oil painting Under the Palms in 1880. The work, measuring 17.5 by 14 centimeters, was created on panel and depicts two elderly women admiring a houseplant. Prior to the final composition, the artist produced a dated pencil study in 1879 and a subsequent drawing, both inscribed with the German title "Unter den Palmen" and verses by Heinrich Heine.

The figures likely include the artist's sisters, Adriana Henriette and either Alletta Maria or Ida Frederika, who frequently served as his models.

In 1881, the Dutch state purchased the painting directly from Bakker Korff. Following this acquisition, the work entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it has remained since.

Alexander Hugo Bakker Korff's painting Under the Palms is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The work was acquired directly from the artist by the state in 1881 and has remained in the museum's custody since that time. While the sources confirm the painting's presence in the Rijksmuseum and its 1881 acquisition, they do not provide a specific inventory or accession number for the piece.

Furthermore, the available documentation does not record any specific exhibition history or list of public showings for this work.

Context

Alexander Hugo Bakker Korff's interior scenes are valued by scholars as detailed resources for studying nineteenth-century clothing and decor. His refined technique on small panels frequently invites comparison to Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier. Art historians interpret the exaggerated wonder the figures display toward a simple houseplant as a rare instance of emotional expression in the artist's typically restrained oeuvre.

The composition is understood as an ironic commentary on the isolation of Biedermeier domestic life, where an exotic symbol intrudes upon a sheltered existence. This reading is supported by the artist's own preparatory sketches, which quote Heinrich Heine to contrast the ladies' dusty, petty-bourgeois reality with the promise of a grander life. Consequently, the work is recognized for its underlying comedic tone and satirical intent.

Overview

“Under the Palms,” an oil painting executed in 1890 by Alexander Hugo Bakker Korff, depicts an intimate interior scene. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and measures a modest size, inviting close observation of its subdued lighting and domestic atmosphere.