Waterput en knotwilg

About this artwork

Genummerd links- en rechtsboven: '2de Lev' en 'Pl. 8'. Deze prent maakt deel uit van een omslag met 21 prenten.

Art Historical Context

**Waterput en knotwilg (Well and Pollarded Willow by Barend Cornelisekkoek captures the serene beauty of the Dutch countryside in this evocative 1829–1830 lithography. Koekkoek, a figure in 19th-century Dutch Romantic, was renowned for his meticulous landscapes that idealized nature's harmony, blending realism with poetic atmosphere. Here, the title evokes a humble rural scene—a stone well beside a gnarled, pollarded willow—symbolizing enduring rural life and the quiet poetry of everyday elements, hallmarks of his style. Printed on a grand scale (485 × 343 mm), this work exemplifies lithography's revolutionary role in the early 19th century. As a planographic technique where artists drew directly on limestone with greasy crayon, it allowed precise reproduction of Koekkoek's fine details—from textured bark to rippling water—for wider audiences. Marked "2de Lev" (second installment) and "Pl. 8," it forms part of a portfolio of 21 prints, making high-quality art accessible beyond oil paintings. This piece reflects the Romantic era's fascination with nature's sublime, amid Holland's growing print culture. Koekkoek's output bridged elite painting and popular dissemination, preserving his vision of an idealized homeland for generations of admirers. A window into 19th-century Dutch identity!

About the Artist

Barend Cornelis Koekkoek · 1803–1862

Barend Cornelis Koekkoek, born on October 11, 1803, in Middelburg, Netherlands, emerged from a prolific family of artists as the son of marine painter Johannes Hermanus Koekkoek and Anna van Koolwijk. His brothers—Hermanus, Johannes, and Marinus Adrianus—also pursued painting, specializing in marine and river scenes or decorative works. Koekkoek received his earliest training from his father befor...