Artwork
View of the Houtmarkt in Amsterdam
View of the Houtmarkt in Amsterdam is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Hendrik Keun. It dates from 1773 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
In this context, the orderly arrangement of timber and the presence of workers signal order and productivity rather than allegorical or religious symbolism.
The painting depicts the Houtmarkt, a historic timber market in Amsterdam, rendered during the late eighteenth century. Keun’s view emphasizes the commercial activity and civic infrastructure of the site, capturing stacks of logs and the dockside buildings that supported the timber trade. By situating the composition along the waterfront, the work underscores the market’s role in Amsterdam’s maritime and mercantile economy.
The scene functions as both a topographical record and a celebration of local industry, reflecting the city’s reliance on imported wood for construction and shipbuilding. In this context, the orderly arrangement of timber and the presence of workers signal order and productivity rather than allegorical or religious symbolism.
Technique & Style
Hendrik Keun executed View of the Houtmarkt in Amsterdam in 1773 using oil paint on panel, a support that measures 39.0 × 51.3 cm. The medium and cityscape genre align with Dutch traditions of topographical painting, though the specific handling and stylistic qualities of the work are not detailed in the available sources. The painting's condition and particular technical characteristics remain unrecorded in the provided documentation.
History & Provenance
Hendrik Keun painted View of the Houtmarkt in Amsterdam in 1773, an oil on panel cityscape now held by the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Museum. The work entered the collection of these institutions at an undocumented point after its creation, with no surviving record of a specific commission or sale. Its dating relies on the painted inscription and contemporary documentation, matching the 1773 inception noted in archival sources.
Overview
Hendrik Keun’s 1773 oil on canvas presents a tranquil view of Amsterdam’s Houtmarkt. The composition captures a narrow canal flanked by brick façades, a modest boat moored in the water, and a horse‑drawn cart traversing the cobbled quay. Pedestrians populate the scene, while a line of leafy trees frames the right‑hand side under a softly clouded sky.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
