Barbizon Landscape Painting by Jan Van Lokhorst “A Rural Cottage” (1867)

A wonderful Barbizon influenced landscape painting by Johan Nicolaus Lokhorst, who generally went by Jan van Lokhorst and signed much of his work as such, this fine historical glimpse depicts lives that were difficult and inconvenient while at the same time rich in relationships and natural beauty.

Beautifully rendered with a fine brushwork that is intricately layered to create a rich and lightly impressionistic scene, the technical elements are exquisitely handled: the translucent shadows and the opacity variation between different types of shadows, the chaotic grass with its varieties of weeds against a full spectrum of harsh to soft light, the loose detailing of the figures that still offers deep historical context on garments and accessories.

It is a scene of relationships that focuses on the two children at play in the yard while the subtext shows the likely conversation that will occur between the mother and the neighbor strolling up the path.

The work is executed in oil on a mahogany artist panel and is hung in an early frame with an old oxidized partial label from a framing shop in Boston.

Artist Listings & Bibliography:

E. Benezit Dictionary of Artists, Vol. VIII, Gründ, 2006, p. 1162

Measurements: 12 7/8″ H x 20 1/16″ W [panel]; 20 1/4″ H x 27 1/2″ W x 2 5/8″ D [frame]

Condition Report:
Old varnish that remains in quite good condition; surface would benefit eventually from being cleaned, but it remains vibrant and we would recommend holding off as long as possible; under UV appears to be free of any surface restoration; very minor edge rubbing behind the frame. Old frame with extensive wear, chipping and loss.