33 Bernardus Johannes Blommers (1845-1914)
Children playing in the breach signed ‘Blommers’ (lower left) oil on canvas, 92x116,5 cm
Bernardus Johannes Blommers was a leading figure of the Hague School and was celebrated for his sensitive depictions of coastal life in the Netherlands. Based in The Hague, he developed a characteristic painterly touch and a refined awareness of light and tone, capturing interior scenes of fishermen’s families and sentimental beach scenes. Blommers moved within a distinguished artistic circle that included Jozef Israëls (1824- 1911) and Anton Mauve (1838-1888), sharing their focus on everyday subjects. Whereas Israëls focused on the realism of everyday fishermen’s hardships, Blommers depicted mostly joyful scenes, creating an idealistic view of life along the Dutch coast. His works were widely exhibited during his lifetime, and they continue to appeal today for their seemingly simple charm and enduring attractive character. The present painting is a compelling and attractive example of Blommers’ oeuvre, depicting children gathered at the shoreline. The simple happiness and joy of the children show an idyllic scene. Set in pastel colours of blue and pink, Blommers depicts a group of children standing on a self-constructed raft. Wave by wave, the water surrounds the raft, creating an ‘island’ in the surf. Three little girls are standing dry on the pile of sand and seaweed, while a young boy, still holding his shovel, looks at the spectacle with his feet in the water. It is the sheer enthusiasm of children playing at the beach that makes this painting so timeless and attractive. It makes us dream about simpler times, about childhood, when happiness was just ‘a sunny day spent at the beach’.
€30,000 - €50,000
Literature: -Eigen Haard, 25 November 1916.
Provenance: -Collection J.M. van der Meulen, Amsterdam. -Private collection, the Netherlands.
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