Artwork
A Watermill in a Woody Landscape
A Watermill in a Woody Landscape is an oil painting by the Barbizon school artist Lodewijk Hendrik Arends. It dates from 1854 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Lodewijk Hendrik Arends's 1854 oil painting presents a landscape scene centered on a watermill situated within a dense, wooded environment.
Lodewijk Hendrik Arends's 1854 oil painting presents a landscape scene centered on a watermill situated within a dense, wooded environment. The composition explicitly depicts a house and trees, establishing a rural setting characteristic of the landscape genre. The work functions as a straightforward topographical or pastoral representation, focusing on the architectural integration of the mill into its natural surroundings.
No specific symbolic meanings, allegorical interpretations, or deeper representational intentions regarding the subject matter are documented in the available records. The piece is identified primarily by its literal depiction of these physical elements rather than by any coded iconography.
Technique & Style
A Watermill in a Woody Landscape is executed in oil paint on a cardboard support, a combination that distinguishes its material construction. Created in 1854 by Lodewijk Hendrik Arends, the work functions as a landscape painting depicting trees and a house within a wooded setting. The physical dimensions of the piece measure 20 cm in height and 25 cm in width, indicating a relatively small-scale format suitable for its medium.
The handling of the oil medium on the rigid cardboard base suggests a specific approach to the genre, focusing on the representation of natural elements and architectural forms within a compact frame.
History & Provenance
A Watermill in a Woody Landscape is an 1854 oil painting on cardboard depicting a tree and a house. It was created by Dutch artist Lodewijk Hendrik Arends as part of his landscape genre works. The painting entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display in the museum’s landscape gallery.
Its creation history is documented through Arends’ focus on rural Dutch scenes, though specific commission details are not recorded. The work’s dimensions are 20 cm by 25 cm, matching the recorded measurements of the piece.
The provenance chain reflects continuous ownership by the Rijksmuseum since its acquisition, establishing the institution as the current and sole owner. There is no evidence of private sales or transfers prior to museum accession. The dating is confirmed by the inception date of 1854, aligning with the artist’s active period in the mid-19th century.
The artwork’s material composition of oil paint and cardboard supports its classification as a mid-century landscape painting, consistent with Arends’ technical approach. Its thematic focus on a wooded riverside mill reflects recurring motifs in his oeuvre, though no direct records of thematic intent exist. The painting’s genre as a landscape is well established through both cataloging and scholarly context within Dutch art history.
A Watermill in a Woody Landscape is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, as recorded in the work's Wikidata entry. The painting is catalogued as part of that museum's holdings, with its location listed as the Rijksmuseum itself.
No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.
Overview
Lodewijk Hendrik Arends painted A Watermill in a Woody Landscape in 1854 using oil on canvas. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and presents a tranquil rural setting dominated by a modest wooden house, a large leafy tree, and a winding dirt path that invites the viewer into the scene.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Lodewijk Hendrik Arends (1817–1873) was an artist, born in Amsterdam.
