Artwork
Avenue of Oaks in Late Summer
Avenue of Oaks in Late Summer is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Maria Bilders-van Bosse. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The inclusion of the figures alongside the majestic oaks emphasizes the relationship between humanity and the cultivated yet wild nature of the heath.
The painting depicts a sandy path flanked by a double row of thick oak trees within a heath-like environment. Two human figures stand among the trees, integrating human presence into the natural setting. This imagery is likely inspired by the heathlands surrounding Wolfheze, a region celebrated in the nineteenth century for its picturesque qualities and popularity among artists.
As a landscape work, the piece represents the aesthetic appreciation of the Dutch countryside during this period, capturing the specific atmosphere of late summer. The inclusion of the figures alongside the majestic oaks emphasizes the relationship between humanity and the cultivated yet wild nature of the heath.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on canvas, measuring 54 by 76 cm. As a landscape, it depicts a sandy road flanked by a double row of thick oak trees in a heath-like setting, with two small figures positioned between the trees. The composition likely draws inspiration from the heathlands around Wolfheze, an area favored by 19th-century artists for its picturesque qualities. The work is signed "M Bilders van Bosse" in the lower left. It was exhibited in "Clouds and Light: Impressionism in Holland" at the Rijksmuseum.
History & Provenance
The painting Avenue of Oaks in Late Summer was created by Maria Bilders-van Bosse in 1890. The work is signed 'M Bilders van Bosse' in the lower left corner, a detail that confirms its creation occurred after the artist's marriage to Johannes Warnardus Bilders in 1880.
Regarding its ownership history, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam acquired the piece on October 16, 1900. The museum purchased the work at a charity auction organized by the artists' association Pulchri Studio in The Hague, an institution of which Bilders-van Bosse was a member.
The painting Avenue of Oaks in Late Summer is held by the Rijksmuseum under inventory number SK-A-1555. It entered the collection following its purchase by the Rijksmuseum on 16 October 1900 from a benefit sale of the Pulchri Studio artists’ society in The Hague. The work was previously exhibited in the 1900 exhibition Clouds and Light: Impressionism in Holland, presented at the Rijksmuseum.
The painting measures 54 cm in height and 76 cm in width, and is displayed in hall 1.18 of the Rijksmuseum.
It was created by Maria Bilders-van Bosse in 1890 and signed in the lower left corner ‘M Bilders van Bosse’, reflecting her status as a member of the Pulchri Studio after her marriage to Johannes Warnardus Bilders in 1880.
Overview
Created in 1896, Avenue of Oaks in Late Summer is an oil painting by Dutch artist Maria Bilders-van Bosse. The work portrays a tranquil woodland lane bordered by mature oak trees, their bark rendered with a tactile sense of age. Light filters through the canopy, illuminating the forest floor in muted tones, while two diminutive figures linger in the distance, adding a subtle narrative element.
Context
Executed during the late 19th century, the work aligns with a broader European interest in plein‑air painting and the study of natural light. Bilders-van Bosse, based in Amsterdam, participated in this movement, adapting its principles to Dutch woodland subjects and contributing to the regional interpretation of impressionist aesthetics.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Maria Philippina (Marie) Bilders-van Bosse (Amsterdam, 21 February 1837 – Wiesbaden, 11 July 1900) was a painter, famous for her landscape paintings in an early Dutch-impressionist style.
