Artwork
In het bos
In het bos is an oil painting by the Plein Air artist François Pieter ter Meulen. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a landscape painting, the subject focuses on the natural environment rather than narrative figures or historical events.
Created in 1885 by François Pieter ter Meulen, the oil painting In het bos is classified as a landscape. The title, which translates to "In the woods," indicates that the work depicts a forest setting. As a landscape painting, the subject focuses on the natural environment rather than narrative figures or historical events. The composition represents a scene within a wooded area, consistent with the artist's genre of landscape art.
Technique & Style
In het bos is an oil painting on canvas by François Pieter ter Meulen, dated 1885. The work is classified as a landscape painting, consistent with its woodland subject. Its physical dimensions are 88 cm in height by 68 cm in width.
The canvas support and oil paint medium place it within the standard practice of late nineteenth-century Dutch landscape painting, though no further details of handling, condition, or stylistic qualities are documented in the available sources.
History & Provenance
The work was painted in 1885 by François Pieter ter Meulen and is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, with long-term custody managed by the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands.
The painting entered the national collection through transfer from the Dutch state’s holdings, where it had been recorded as part of the national art collection inventory by 1885. It has remained in the Rijksmuseum’s stewardship since its accession, with no intervening changes of ownership reported in the museum’s records.
The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. It is inventoried as part of the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands Art Collection and is located in the Rijksmuseum depot of the RCE.
As of the documented record, the work has not been listed with a specific exhibition history.
Overview
Painted in 1893, François Pieter ter Meulen's 'In het bos' is a landscape depicting a horse-drawn cart navigating a dense, shadowed woodland. The composition focuses on the immediate struggle of the animal and vehicle against the oppressive forest environment. Thick, textured brushwork defines the rough bark of the looming trees and the heavy foliage that restricts the light, creating deep contrasts between the dark trunks and the limited illumination.
The horse, rendered with a dull brown coat, appears weary as it pulls the small cart, which is partially obscured by the overhanging branches. Ter Meulen, a Dutch painter known for his realistic depictions of rural life and nature, utilizes this work to emphasize the raw, unidealized aspects of the natural world. The painting reflects his commitment to capturing the atmospheric weight of the forest and the physical reality of labor within it, characteristic of his mature style in the late 19th century.
The work stands as a testament to his ability to convey mood and texture through a restrained palette and vigorous application of oil paint.
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Artist & collection
Artist
François Pieter ter Meulen (1843–1927) was an artist, born in Bodegraven.
