Bosrand aan het water 1848 - 1888

Anton Mauve created this watercolor called Bosrand aan het water. Mauve, an important influence on his cousin-in-law Vincent van Gogh, demonstrates his skill with water and pigment. Notice how he allows these materials to flow freely, defining the form and surface of the trees, water, and sky. This approach, which highlights the inherent qualities of the medium, was characteristic of the Hague School of painters. The painting’s muted palette creates a sense of tranquility and introspection. The artist has clearly mastered the use of layering and transparency in the watercolor medium to capture the reflections on the water’s surface and the depth of the forest. The work’s quiet tone also gives it a modern sensibility, as Mauve lets the paint do the work. The scene’s naturalism, achieved through the fluid and transparent nature of watercolor, elevates what may have traditionally been seen as a craft medium to the realm of fine art.