Artwork
The Osjessluis near Kalverstraat in Amsterdam
The Osjessluis near Kalverstraat in Amsterdam is an oil painting by the Realist artist Charles Rochussen. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a landscape subject, the composition focuses on the architectural and infrastructural element of the sluice gate within the city environment.
The painting depicts the Osjessluis, a specific lock structure located near the Kalverstraat in Amsterdam. Created by Charles Rochussen in 1855, the work presents a direct visual record of this urban waterway feature. As a landscape subject, the composition focuses on the architectural and infrastructural element of the sluice gate within the city environment.
The artwork serves as a documentary representation of the location as it appeared in the mid-nineteenth century, capturing the functional aspect of the water management system in the Dutch capital.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1855, this work by Charles Rochussen is an oil painting created on a panel support. The piece measures 32 cm in height and 23.5 cm in width. As a classified painting within the Rijksmuseum collection, it utilizes oil paint as its primary medium to depict the Osjessluis near the Kalverstraat in Amsterdam.
History & Provenance
The Osjessluis near Kalverstraat in Amsterdam was created by Charles Rochussen in 1855, executed in oil paint on panel. According to the Wikidata record, the work has an inception date of 1855-01-01. The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains located.
No information is available in the provided sources regarding the original commission, the circumstances of its creation, or the chain of ownership prior to its accession by the Rijksmuseum.
Charles Rochussen's 1855 oil painting, The Osjessluis near Kalverstraat in Amsterdam, is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The work is executed in oil paint on a panel measuring 32 cm in height and 23.5 cm in width. While the painting is confirmed to be part of the museum's permanent holdings, the provided sources do not specify a unique inventory or accession number for the piece. Furthermore, the available documentation contains no record of specific exhibitions featuring this artwork.
Overview
Charles Rochussen’s 1855 oil painting captures a bustling corner of Amsterdam’s Kalverstraat, focusing on the historic Osjessluis lock. Rendered in a realist style, the work presents a narrow street flanked by warm‑toned brick façades, a canal spanned by a low bridge, and everyday activity along the water’s edge.
Context
Created during a period when Dutch artists were turning to realistic depictions of everyday life, the work reflects contemporary interest in documenting urban transformation. The Osjessluis lock, a functional element of the city’s canal system, becomes a focal point for observing the interplay of commerce, transport, and architecture in a rapidly modernizing Amsterdam.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Rochussen (1 August 1814 in Kralingen – 22 September 1894 in Rotterdam) was a Dutch illustrator and printmaker.
