Houses by the Bank of the River Zaan, 1871 – 1872

Dimensions: 47.7 x 73.7 cm

Physical Description: Oil on canvas

Inventory Number: 1385

Acquisition: Acquired in 1904

Status: On loan

Texts

About the Work

Immediately after the Franco-Prussian War, during which Claude Monet had sought exile in London, the artist travelled to the Netherlands. He and his family sojourned in a small town near Amsterdam called Zaandam, which was popular with tourists. “One would be busy for an entire painter’s life,” he wrote to his friend Camille Pissarro. While Paris lay in ruins, Monet depicted happy scenery. The soft light of a summer’s day is shimmering on the picturesque houses, which are reflected in the water on the bank of the Zaan River. The artist captures the carefree atmosphere of this idyllic location with Impressionist brushstrokes.

Audio

Basic information

01:02
Focus on material

01:41

Work Data

Basic Information

Title: Houses by the Bank of the River Zaan

Painter

Claude Monet

Period Produced

19th century

School

Impressionism

Object Type

painting (artwork)

Physical Description: Oil on canvas

Material

canvas

Technique

Label at the Time of Manufacture: Signiert unten links: Claude Monet.

Property and Acquisition

Institution

Städel Museum

Departement

Modern Art 1800–1945

Collection

Städelsches Kunstinstitut

Creditline: Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main

Picture Copyright: Public Domain

Acquisition: Acquired in 1904

Work Content

Motifs and References

Genre

city view

Main Motif

Associated Persons and Institutions

Iconclass

Primary

41A143 detached house in city
25I145 canals, waters (in city)
61D(ZAAN) geographical names of countries, regions, mountains, rivers, etc. (ZAAN) (ZAAN)
61E(ZAANDAM) names of cities and villages (ZAANDAM)

Secondary

25G3 trees
31D15 adult woman
41A54 fence, wall, paling
26A clouds
22C5 reflection (light in general)
23F43 summer landscape; landscape symbolizing summer (the four seasons of the year)