Landschap met twee bomen

About this artwork

Purchased from the artist by Henri Hymans (1836-1912), Brussels, 1867;{Verslagen 1975, p. 16.} …; the dealer P.A. Scheen, The Hague, 1962;{Photo RKD.} …; bequeathed by Theresia Louise Laue, née Drucker (1882-1974), The Hague, with xx other objects, to the museum, 1975

Art Historical Context

**Landschap met twee** (*Landscape with Two Trees*), painted by Dutch artist Paul Joseph Constantin Gabriël between 0 and 1867, captures the serene essence of the Dutch countryside in a compact oil on panel (13.2 × 18.5 cm). Gabriël, a key figure in the Hague School—a 19th-century movement celebrated for its realistic, atmospheric depictions of the Netherlands' flat landscapes, waterways, and ever-changing skies—likely rendered this intimate scene as a study or sketch. The modest panel support, favored for its stability and portability, allowed artists like Gabriël to work en plein air, building luminous layers of oil to evoke subtle light and mood. This small yet evocative work reflects the Hague School's emphasis on everyday natural beauty over dramatic Romanticism, portraying humble elements like solitary trees against expansive horizons. Purchased directly from the artist in 1867 by Brussels collector Henri Hymans, it passed through dealers before being bequeathed to the Rijksmuseum in 1975 by Theresia Louise Laue. Today, it stands as a testament to Gabriël's mastery of tonality and texture, inviting visitors to appreciate the quiet poetry of the Dutch polder in a national treasure trove.

About the Artist

Paul Joseph Constantin Gabriël · 1828–1903

Comment on works: landscape, etcher; watercolorist