An artwork on Galleree from The Art Institute of Chicago.
About the artwork
The Watermill with the Great Red RoofMeindert Hobbema (Dutch, 1638–1709)
1662/65
Holland
81.3 × 110 cm (32 × 43 1/4 in.); Framed: 101.3 × 130.5 × 8.3 cm (39 7/8 × 51 3/8 × 3 1/4 in.)
Oil on canvas
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Frank G. Logan
['Realism', '17th Century']
['landscapes', 'ducks', 'river', 'water', 'clouds', 'trees', 'man', 'figure', 'building', 'windmill', 'Century of Progress', "world's fairs", "Chicago World's Fairs"]
['oil on canvas', 'paint', 'painting', 'european painting']
['oil paint (paint)', 'canvas', 'paint', 'painting']
['oil painting', 'painting', 'painting (image making)', 'painting techniques']
A pupil of Jacob van Ruisdael, Meindert Hobbema often borrowed motifs from his teacher, such as the watermill seen here. Watermills, which Hobbema employed more than 30 times in his paintings and which abounded along country waterways, would have been understood as symbols of human transience and Dutch industriousness. The well-dressed figures farther along the path at the left are intended to suggest the rewards of productivity and diligence.
| attributed to Art Institute of Chicago under CC-By license
In a tranquil countryside, where the gentle sounds of nature blend seamlessly with the soft whispers of the wind, we find a scene painted by the talented Meindert Hobbema. As a devoted pupil of Jacob van Ruisdael, Hobbema inherited not only his teacher's skill but also his eye for capturing the heart of Dutch landscapes.
One cannot help but notice the watermill nestled beside a languid stream, a motif that Hobbema embraced and celebrated in over thirty of his paintings. It stands as a steadfast symbol of human transience, an enduring reminder of the industrious spirit that characterized the Dutch people. As the wheel turns, it mimics the passage of time, elegantly representing the cadence of life and labor.
Not too far off the path, dressed in their finest attire, we see figures strolling with purpose. Their well-tailored clothing tells a story of hard work rewarded, an embodiment of the fruits of diligence and commitment. These figures are not just part of the landscape; they represent the harmony between nature and human endeavor, a dance of productivity that defines a culture.
In this serene tableau, Hobbema invites us to pause and reflect, offering a glimpse into a world where labor and beauty coexist, and where each brushstroke invites us to appreciate the delicate balance of life along the waterways of Holland.
About the artist
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