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Willem van den Berg“Children in the Snow” by Willem van den Berg (Dutch, 1886-1970) Oil SignedMid-20th Century
Mid-20th Century
$13,500
£10,287.25
€11,864.04
CA$19,174.04
A$20,601.43
CHF 11,052.63
MX$242,708.64
About the Item
“Children in the Snow” by Willem van den Berg (Dutch, 1886-1970)
An exceptional example of van den Berg’s beloved portrayals of children playing in the snow. Rendered with an earthy palette, punctuated by warm ochres and reds, the composition draws the viewer into a frozen world where a long line of children (and adult supervisors) snakes across the hillside. At the heart of the composition, a young girl sits in the snow, while a group of her companions gather around to assist her. The elongated procession of figures fading into the distance lends the work a rhythmic, continuous structure and suggests a close-knit community.
Van den Berg was known for his deep respect for peasant life and his ability to elevate the ordinary through a painterly language of empathy and gravitas. This work exemplifies his signature style: rustic realism merged with a modernist’s appreciation for form and movement. In this work, he not only records a fleeting winter instance but also crystallizes themes of care, resilience, and solidarity. It is a masterful example of his ability to portray the dignity of everyday rural existence with both narrative clarity and artistic nuance.
This work likely dates to van den Berg’s time as an instructor at the National Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam between 1939 and 1953. It is oil on board and is signed in the lower right and inscribed on the reverse. It is housed in a wonderful, period House of Heydenryk frame with a label from Guildhall Galleries in Chicago on the reverse.
Size:
15.75 inches tall by 19.75 inches wide (painting)
23 inches tall by 27 inches wide by 2 inches deep (frame)
Provenance:
Guildhall Galleries, IL;
Private collection, NY;
Acquired from the above
About the artist:
Willem van den Berg (1886-1970) painted still lifes, animals, genre, landscapes and portraits but was best known for his renderings of peasants, farmers and particularly Scheveningen and Volendam fisherfolk. He first trained with his father, Andries van den Berg, a renowned painter, print-maker and teacher at the Academy in The Hague. He later enrolled at the Academie voor Beeldende Kunst in The Hague and was a student of Carel Frederick Louis Wild and Willem Adriaan van Konijnenburg. Van den Berg also took study trips to Belgium, Italy, England, and worked with the Barbizon artists in France. Afterwards he became an instructor in the Eerste Nederlandse Vrije Studio in The Hague. In 1926 he exhibited a painting at the Jeu de Paume, Paris. In 1938 he moved to Amsterdam. From 1939 until 1953 he was the director as well as an instructor of the National Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam. He proved to be a popular teacher and his students included Jan Batermann, Joop Broek, Jacobus Johannes Brouwers, Jan Engelberts, Lydia Hoeffelman, Bob Hoope, and Kurt Löf among many others. In 1959 he received second prize at the International Art Exhibition in Edinburgh. He was a member of the “Arti et Amicitiae” Association in Amsterdam, the Pulchri Studio in The Hague and one of the Gooische artists who painted in Laren. He also worked as a graphic artist executing linocuts and lithographs. His works can be found in the museums of Amsterdam, Assen, Budapest, Deurne, Enkhuizen, The Hague, Laren, Rotterdam and Trieste.
The chief influences on his work were the paintings of Willem Adriaan van Konijnenburg, Johann Joseph Aarts and the old masters, particularly Pieter Brueghel the Elder. As a result of his time among the Barbizon painters, a connection to Jean François Millet is also evident. Van den Berg has been characterized as a naïve artist and was included in such shows as Meesters der Europese Naieven at the Centraal Museum, Utrecht in 1970. Such terminology seems somewhat inadequate when describing the particular magic this artist created as he always remained unaffected by contemporary trends, continually seeking his own way that perpetually defied definition.
Condition: Excellent overall condition. Some old damp staining on back of the board, not affecting the work. Original distressed style House of Heydenryk frame with typical wear from handling and intentional distressed elements. It is ready to be displayed and enjoyed!
All photographs are taken in a well-lit environment using studio lights (set to a cooler temperature) to reveal as much detail as possible. Colors can vary slightly depending on the temperature and strength of your lighting.
- Creator:Willem van den Berg (1886 - 1970, Dutch)
- Creation Year:Mid-20th Century
- Dimensions:Height: 23 in (58.42 cm)Width: 27 in (68.58 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement Style:
- Period:
- Condition:Excellent overall condition. Some old damp staining on back of the board, not affecting the work. Original distressed style House of Heydenryk frame with typical wear from handling and intentional distressed elements.
- Gallery Location:Yardley, PA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2911217274492
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