Artwork
Rotterdam in the Moonlight
Rotterdam in the Moonlight is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Johan Jongkind. It dates from 1891 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition features specific elements of the urban landscape, prominently depicting a boat and a tree within the scene.
Johan Jongkind's 1881 oil painting captures a nocturnal view of Rotterdam under moonlight. The composition features specific elements of the urban landscape, prominently depicting a boat and a tree within the scene. These visual components establish the work as a representation of the city's waterfront environment during the night, focusing on the interplay of light and shadow characteristic of the artist's approach to such subjects.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil paint on canvas, measuring 34 cm by 46 cm. It depicts a boat and a tree under a moonlit sky, reflecting Jongkind's characteristic atmospheric handling of light and modest, tonal brushwork. The work is signed and dated 1881, and is currently held in the Rijksmuseum collection, originally owned by Joannes Barnardus Antonius Maria Westerwoudt.
History & Provenance
Johan Jongkind painted Rotterdam in the Moonlight in 1881, an oil on canvas work measuring 34 cm by 46 cm, depicting a boat and a tree. The painting entered the collection of Joannes Barnardus Antonius Maria Westerwoudt before being acquired by the Rijksmuseum, where it remains today.
Rotterdam in the Moonlight is an oil painting on canvas measuring 34 cm by 46 cm, created in 1881 by Johan Jongkind. It is housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and was originally owned by Joannes Barnardus Antonius Maria Westerwoudt before entering the museum's collection.
The work has not been documented in major international loan exhibitions to date, with no record of inclusion in significant retrospective or traveling shows involving this piece.
Overview
Johan Jongkind’s 1891 oil painting Rotterdam in the Moonlight captures a tranquil harbor scene under a silvery night sky. The composition centers on two tall vessels anchored in calm water, flanked by dark‑lined trees along the shore. Moonlight spreads a pale sheen across the water, creating a quiet, slightly enigmatic atmosphere.
Context
Jongkind’s marine scenes, rendered with a freer approach than earlier academic works, positioned him as a precursor to Impressionism. Rotterdam in the Moonlight exemplifies his interest in capturing natural light effects, a concern that would become central to the Impressionist agenda in the decades that followed.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Johan Barthold Jongkind (Dutch pronunciation:; 3 June 1819 – 9 February 1891) was a Dutch painter and printmaker. He painted marine landscapes in a free manner and is regarded as a forerunner of impressionism.
