Ships at Shore with Seamen

Literature

An artist who worked primarily in Rotterdam and The Hague, George Willem Opdenhoff focused his creativity on landscape and marine subjects. He studied with the renowned landscape painter Andreas Schelfhout, and the influential marine painter Johannes Christiaan Schotel. Opdenhoff traveled extensively, working throughout Europe: in Breda from 1837 to 1837, then in France, and then Rotterdam, before settling near The Hague. He exhibited at The Hague throughout his career, from 1835 until 1861.

Our painting, Fishing Boats, is a wonderfully executed work. Here, Opdenhoff depicts a a group of boats with seamen on board raising the nets. The bright sky renders the painting with calmness and the puffy clouds extend volume. Our painting shows off Opdenhoff’s great sense of color and marine composition, for which he is known.