De melkbocht
Willem Roelofs (I)
1870 - 1897
Medium
oil on panel
Dimensions
11; 26; 0.8
About this artwork
oil on panel
Art Historical Context
**De melkbocht** Willem Roelofs (), created between 1870 and1897, captures the serene Dutch countryside in a compact oil on panel measuring just 11 x 26 cm. Housed in the Rijksmuseum, this work exemplifies Roelofs' mastery of landscape painting, likely depicting a gentle bend in a pastoral path—*melkbocht* translating to "milk bend," evoking scenes of milkmaids or grazing cattle in the lowlands. Roelofs, a leading figure in the Hague School, bridged Dutch realism with French Barbizon influences, emphasizing atmospheric effects and natural light through plein-air techniques. Active from the mi...