Artwork
Witte eend met kiekens
Witte eend met kiekens is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Willem Maris. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays a white duck situated within a rural landscape that includes grass, a body of water, a shoreline and an additional bird.
The work portrays a white duck situated within a rural landscape that includes grass, a body of water, a shoreline and an additional bird. This composition situates the duck as part of a broader natural scene typical of Dutch animal paintings from the late nineteenth century. By placing the bird amid ordinary countryside elements, Maris emphasizes the everyday pastoral setting and the quiet presence of wildlife, reflecting the period’s interest in realistic depictions of nature.
Technique & Style
Willem Maris executed Witte eend met kiekens in 1895 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 55.5 cm in height and 89.5 cm in width, fitting the classification of an oil painting within the animal art genre. Stylistically, the piece depicts a rural setting featuring grass, a body of water, and a shoreline populated by a duck and its ducklings.
The composition focuses on the naturalistic portrayal of these birds within their environment, characteristic of Maris's approach to animal subjects.
History & Provenance
Witte eend met kiekens was painted by Willem Maris in 1895 using oil on canvas. The work is recorded as part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and is currently housed there. No earlier owners or commission details are provided in the available sources, so the known provenance begins with its creation and its present location at the Rijksmuseum.
Overview
Willem Maris's oil painting, Witte eend met kiekens (White Duck with Ducklings), created in 1898, captures a serene moment in nature. This work, now part of the Rijksmuseum collection, depicts a white duck guiding its brood of seven yellow ducklings through lush green grass. The scene is set against a softly illuminated narrow body of water, characteristic of Maris's focus on naturalistic animal portrayals.
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