Artwork
De gevallen engel
De gevallen engel is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Willem de Zwart. It dates from 1908 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
De gevallen engel is executed in oil paint on panel, a relatively modest support measuring 20 cm in height by 17.
De gevallen engel is executed in oil paint on panel, a relatively modest support measuring 20 cm in height by 17.5 cm in width. Painted in 1908, the work is classified as a painting and falls within the genre of the nude. The small panel format is consistent with the intimate scale typical of Willem de Zwart's handling of the subject, and the oil medium allows for the detailed finish associated with his figure studies of this period.
History & Provenance
De gevallen engel was painted by Willem de Zwart in 1908. The oil painting on panel measures 20 by 17.5 cm. The work is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, though the sources do not detail how it entered the museum's holdings or any earlier ownership history. No information about the commission or patronage of the work is provided in the available sources.
Overview
Willem de Zwart’s 1908 oil painting De gevallen engel presents a solitary nude figure lying on a dark, indistinct ground. The composition centers on the reclining body, whose head rests on the left arm while the right arm stretches outward, and the knees are drawn up. The work belongs to the Rijksmuseum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a moment of quiet introspection, the figure appearing absorbed in thought. The subdued pose and muted surroundings suggest a contemplative atmosphere rather than overt narrative, inviting viewers to consider the inner state of the subject.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Wilhelmus "Willem" Hendrikus Petrus Johannes de Zwart (16 May 1862 – 11 December 1931) was a Dutch painter, engraver, and watercolorist with many connections to the Hague School and later associated with the Amsterdam Impressionism…
