Wintergezicht 1849 - 1917

Matthijs Maris created this watercolor titled “Wintergezicht.” Watercolor, often seen as less serious than oil, is a great medium for capturing fleeting moments like the light of a winter day. The quick-drying nature of the paint encourages spontaneity, visible in the washes of grey and blue that dominate the sky. It’s a medium suited to impressions, and to landscape. Notice how the transparent qualities of watercolor allow Maris to create depth, layering washes to build up the scene. There is a social dimension here, too: the image depicts a day of leisure, skating on a frozen canal, a respite from the usual labors of life. Maris has made the most of the fluidity of the watercolor to suggest movement and atmosphere. That's what gives it an evocative power, rather than precision. With its delicate balance between control and chance, “Wintergezicht” reminds us of the value in looking closely at an artist’s process. It is through material expression, that we can find deeper cultural meanings.