Artwork
IJsberen beklimmen een ronddrijvende sloep
IJsberen beklimmen een ronddrijvende sloep is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist John Macallan Swan. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work’s meaning is tied to its genre, portraying the bear as both a majestic creature and a threat within a precarious setting.
The painting depicts a polar bear climbing onto a floating boat, a scene that symbolizes human vulnerability and the struggle for survival in the Arctic environment. The subject draws on iconographic traditions of marine art that emphasize the precarious relationship between man and nature, while also reflecting contemporary 19th‑century interest in polar exploration and natural history. The work’s meaning is tied to its genre, portraying the bear as both a majestic creature and a threat within a precarious setting.
History & Provenance
The marine painting IJsberen beklimmen een ronddrijvende sloep was created by John Macallan Swan in 1890. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 152 cm in height and 276 cm in width. It is currently held within the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands Art Collection, where it is stored in the depot of the Rijksmuseum.
No specific details regarding the original commission, the acquisition date by the agency, or the intermediate ownership chain prior to its current location are provided in the available records.
The painting IJsberen beklimmen een ronddrijvende sloep by John Macallan Swan is held within the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands Art Collection. It is currently located in the depot of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The work was created in 1890 and is cataloged as part of the Rijksmuseum's inventory under the RCE (Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed) collection.
While the specific accession number is not detailed in the provided records, the piece is identified as a marine oil painting on canvas measuring 152 cm in height and 276 cm in width. No exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
IJsberen beklimmen een ronddrijvende sloep is an oil painting by John Macallan Swan, created in 1896, and is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection.
Technique & Style
Thick brushstrokes are used to create a textured effect, making the bears and boat appear realistic. The dark background highlights the bears, giving them a sense of luminosity.
Context
The use of thick paint, or impasto, contributes to the dramatic effect of the scene, emphasizing the turmoil of the sea and the bears' interaction with the boat.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
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