Artwork
View in the Woods
View in the Woods is an oil painting by George Hendrik Breitner. It dates from 1901 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The iconography is straightforward, concentrating on the visual representation of the forest without additional symbolic layers described in available records.
View in the Woods presents a landscape scene focused on a forest environment. The composition specifically depicts trees within a wooded setting, adhering to the landscape painting genre. Created in 1901, the work utilizes oil paint applied to cardboard to render this natural subject matter.
The iconography is straightforward, concentrating on the visual representation of the forest without additional symbolic layers described in available records. As a product of the Netherlands, the piece reflects a direct observation of nature typical of Breitner's approach to outdoor scenes during this period.
Technique & Style
Breitner's View in the Woods is an oil painting executed on cardboard, a support typical of his late works, with the artist employing a relatively thin layer of oil paint to render the forest scene. The composition emphasizes a flattened spatial perspective and a restrained palette of greens and browns, reflecting his interest in everyday urban and natural environments rendered with a quasi‑photographic clarity. Subtle handling of brushwork and the careful modulation of light convey a quiet, almost lyrical mood, while the depiction of trees and undergrowth showcases a simplified, decorative quality that anticipates his later graphic experiments. The work measures 41 cm by 26 cm and was created in the Netherlands in 1901.
History & Provenance
View in the Woods is an oil painting on cardboard created in 1901 in the Netherlands by George Hendrik Breitner. The work measures 41 cm in height and 26 cm in width and depicts a forested landscape. It has been part of the Rijksmuseum collection since its acquisition, remaining in the museum's permanent holdings.
The painting was produced during Breitner's mature period, reflecting his interest in everyday scenes and naturalistic rendering. Its creation history is documented through the artist's dated output in 1901, with no evidence of earlier or later revisions in the source material.
Provenance is limited to its continuous presence in the Rijksmuseum collection, with no record of private sales or external transfers.
View in the Woods, an 1901 oil painting by George Hendrik Breitner, is held by the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands. The work is part of the museum's collection, recorded as a landscape painting executed in oil paint on cardboard, measuring 41 cm in height by 26 cm in width. According to the available records, the painting is housed at the Rijksmuseum, where it remains part of the institution's holdings. No specific exhibition history or accession number is documented in the provided sources.
Overview
Created in 1901, View in the Woods is an oil painting by Dutch artist George Hendrik Breitner. The work belongs to the Rijksmuseum’s collection and depicts a densely wooded landscape dominated by a solitary, towering tree. Breitner, known for his association with Amsterdam Impressionism, rendered the scene with a focus on atmospheric presence rather than precise detail.
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Artist & collection
Artist
George Hendrik Breitner (12 September 1857 – 5 June 1923) was a Dutch painter and photographer.
