Wintergezicht te Harlingen 1777 - 1820

Nicolaas Baur made this watercolour called Wintergezicht te Harlingen. Watercolour may seem simple enough, but its effects are deceptive. Notice the way Baur has captured the frigid atmosphere of the scene using washes of diluted pigment. The whiteness of the paper shines through, suggesting the pale winter light reflecting off the ice and snow. This kind of mark-making requires a sensitivity to the material, an understanding of how the water will carry the pigment across the surface. Watercolour allowed Baur to suggest atmospheric perspective, depth, and volume. The frozen canal becomes a stage for the figures, their bodies rendered with quick, assured strokes. Baur’s ability to capture this scene with such efficiency speaks to the value placed on the artist’s hand during this period, and the premium placed on skillfully depicting the everyday world. The craft and vision combine to create this image of an active local economy in Harlingen.