Who painted Canal at Utrecht?

Canal at Utrecht was painted by Cornelis Ploos van Amstel in 1771.

Where can I see Canal at Utrecht?

Canal at Utrecht is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Canal at Utrecht?

Canal at Utrecht is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Canal at Utrecht?

Museum-quality prints of Canal at Utrecht are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Canal at Utrecht

Cornelis Ploos van Amstel , 1771

Canal at Utrecht is a chalk print by the Romanticist artist Cornelis Ploos van Amstel. It dates from 1771 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower right in image: J.E.; verso in upper right corner: Geoffrered aan mynen Vriend ! / den Kunstlievenden Heer / Joh: Lublink dj / Amsterdam 18 Oct 1787; verso along bottom in brown ink: Jacob Esselen del / Ploos van Amstel J.C. Fecit 1771
Markings: Marked:verso: artist's mark (Eusman 4)

About this work

Overview

Cornelis Ploos van Amstel’s 1771 work, Canal at Utrecht, is a black‑ink print executed on laid paper. The image combines a chalk‑manner drawing with roulette printing, supplemented by subtle hand‑applied gray washes. The composition presents a tranquil waterway framed by distant trees and low buildings, rendered in a restrained palette that emphasizes atmosphere over detail.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts a Utrecht canal populated by three vessels: a larger, mast‑laden boat occupied by figures on deck, and two smaller rowboats drifting nearby. The calm water and soft sky suggest a moment of quiet passage, while the inclusion of human activity hints at the everyday commerce and leisure that animated the city’s waterways in the eighteenth century.

Technique & Style

Ploos van Amstel employed rapid, sketch‑like strokes to convey movement, using cross‑hatching and roulette patterns to suggest depth and texture. The hand‑colored gray wash adds a tonal layer that softens the ink lines, creating a sense of mist and atmospheric perspective. Unfinished areas are intentional, allowing the viewer’s eye to complete the scene.

History & Provenance

Created in 1771, the print reflects the artist’s interest in topographical subjects during a period when Dutch printmakers documented urban and rural landscapes. The work is catalogued as a print rather than a finished drawing, indicating its role as a study or illustrative piece. Its survival on laid paper suggests it was kept in a collection that valued both artistic and documentary qualities.