Artwork
Country kermis
Country kermis is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Pieter de Bloot. It dates from 1639 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Stylistically, the composition depicts a rural fair setting that includes a tree as a central visual element within the landscape.
Executed in 1639, this genre scene by Pieter de Bloot is an oil painting applied to a wooden panel. The work measures 60 cm in height and 84 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition depicts a rural fair setting that includes a tree as a central visual element within the landscape.
The piece is classified as genre art, reflecting the artist's focus on scenes of everyday life during the Dutch Golden Age.
History & Provenance
Pieter de Bloot created the oil painting Country kermis in 1639. The work was executed on a panel support measuring 60 cm in height and 84 cm in width. Over time, the painting has been associated with several Dutch institutions, including the Rijksmuseum, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands Art Collection, Museum IJsselstein, and the Instituut Collectie Nederland.
While specific details regarding its original commission or early ownership chain are not provided in the available records, its inclusion in these collections establishes its modern provenance within major Dutch cultural heritage holdings.
Overview
Created in 1639 by Rotterdam‑born Pieter de Bloot, Country kermis is an oil on canvas that belongs to the Dutch Golden Age. The work portrays a lively village square filled with figures engaged in everyday activities, set against a backdrop of thatched houses, trees and a distant church tower. The composition reflects de Bloot’s interest in rural genre scenes and peasant life.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a local fair or kermis, a communal celebration common in 17th‑century Dutch villages. Groups of townspeople gather around a stone building, sharing food at a table, while a young girl in a white dress holds a flower. Dancers, walkers, and idle spectators populate the scene, offering a snapshot of social interaction, leisure, and the rhythms of countryside life.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter de Bloot (1601 – c. 6 November 1658) was a Dutch painter. De Bloot, who was born and died in Rotterdam, primarily painted landscapes and genre works, especially of countryside views and peasant subjects. He also…
