Artwork
Winter Landscape
Winter Landscape is an oil painting by the Barbizon school artist Barend Cornelis Koekkoek. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the collection Adriaan van der Hoop.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a winter landscape in which figures glide across frozen water beneath a pale sky, surrounded by snow-covered ground.
The painting presents a winter landscape in which figures glide across frozen water beneath a pale sky, surrounded by snow-covered ground. The depicted elements, ice, skating, and snow, place the work within the Dutch winter genre tradition that celebrated seasonal leisure and the transient beauty of the cold months. By focusing on atmospheric light and the quiet activity of skaters, Koekkoek conveys a sense of calm enjoyment of nature’s winter aspect, suggesting both the fleeting pleasures of the season and a harmonious relationship between people and the landscape.
Technique & Style
Winter Landscape is executed in oil paint on a canvas support, a medium typical of Koekkoek’s 1830s output. The artist applied the oil in layered, controlled brushwork to render the crisp details of snow‑covered terrain, icy water, and a pale sky, achieving a smooth surface that captures the subtle variations of winter light. Stylistically, the work reflects the Dutch Romantic landscape tradition, emphasizing atmospheric depth, meticulous topographical observation, and a tranquil, almost poetic mood.
The painting’s formal qualities, balanced composition, delicate handling of light and shadow, and a restrained palette of whites, blues, and earth tones, underscore Koekkoek’s skill in conveying both the stillness and the crisp vitality of a winter scene.
History & Provenance
Winter Landscape is an oil painting on canvas measuring 62 × 75 cm, executed by Barend Cornelis Koekkoek in 1835. The work portrays a frozen scene with ice skaters, snow‑covered banks, and a pale winter sky. According to the documentary record, it entered the collection of Adriaan van der Hoop, later becoming part of the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Museum holdings.
The painting’s dimensions and medium are documented in the Rijksmuseum catalogue, while its subject matter and date are confirmed by the Wikidata entry. No evidence of a specific commission is recorded; the work was created as an independent studio piece.
The work is held by the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, with inventory number SK-C-1938.
It was included in the collection formed by Adriaan van der Hoop and later transferred to the Rijksmuseum after his bequest in 1854. The painting has been exhibited by the Rijksmuseum, including in the long-term display of 19th-century Dutch landscape painting in Gallery 2.17.
Overview
This oil painting, created in 1835 by the Dutch artist Barend Cornelis Koekkoek, captures a serene winter day. It depicts a snow-covered rural landscape, animated by figures engaged in daily activities and leisure on frozen water. The work is a notable example of 19th-century Dutch landscape painting and is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection.
Context
Barend Cornelis Koekkoek was a leading figure among 19th-century Dutch landscape painters and the most recognized artist from the notable Koekkoek family. His work, including this piece, aligns with the broader naturalistic tendencies exemplified by the Barbizon school. This movement emphasized direct observation and the depiction of unidealized rural environments, influencing European landscape art during this era.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Barend Cornelis Koekkoek (October 11, 1803 – April 5, 1862) was a Dutch landscape artist and lithographer, and the most famous member of the Koekkoek family of painters.
