Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Jacob Henricus Maris died in 1899; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1969.
In context
The windmill — Jacob Henricus Maris
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 62 at death.
Shaded: the lifetime of Jacob Henricus Maris (1837–1899) every dated painting, decade by decade
First works: up to 1873 Main working years: 1873–1890 Late works: from 1890
Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them
This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/jacob-henricus-maris-the-windmill-9HTQ5B-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Espresso #4c564d
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 72.9% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 145 works by this artist, of which 29 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in The Hague, Netherlands
Born: August 25, 1837, The Hague, Netherlands
Died: August 7, 1899, Karlsbad
Maris began his artistic journey with lessons from J.A.B. Stroebel (1849-1852), laying the foundation for his future career.
He formally studied at the Hague Academy of Art from 1850 to 1853, honing his skills and developing a nascent artistic style.
A pivotal moment arrived when an art dealer recognized Maris's talent and arranged for him to work in the studio of Hubertus van Hove, a significant influence early in his development.
His brother, Matthijs Maris, receiving a royal subsidy led to them working together, fostering a collaborative environment that further shaped their artistic paths.
Maris's career was marked by commercial success, with sales to collectors in the United States and Scotland demonstrating his growing reputation.
Travels through Germany, Switzerland, and France (1861) exposed him to diverse artistic styles, broadening his influences and contributing to stylistic evolution.
He became renowned for painting landscapes featuring rivers, mills, towpaths, and beach scenes with fishing boats, establishing a signature subject matter.
Key Characteristics of His Style:
Broad and larger brushstrokes created texture and movement within his paintings.
Subdued colors contributed to the atmospheric quality of his landscapes.
Emphasis on depicting clouds and their effects on the surrounding environment was a defining feature.
He applied paint thickly, building it up and meticulously adjusting colors to achieve harmonious compositions.
Comparisons have been drawn between Maris's work and that of earlier Dutch masters like Jan van Goyen, Jacob van Ruisdael, and Johannes Vermeer, highlighting his connection to the rich tradition of Dutch landscape painting.
Maris is celebrated for a series of portraits of the Royal House of Orange, undertaken in collaboration with his brother Matthijs, showcasing his portraiture skills alongside his landscapes.
"Schip on the Scheveningen Beach" exemplifies his ability to capture coastal scenes with atmospheric depth and detail.
He became a member of Pulchri Studio in 1871, signifying his acceptance within the established artistic community.
From 1885 onwards, Maris achieved widespread recognition in the Netherlands, solidifying his position as a leader of the Hague School.
Maris's contribution to the Hague School is significant; he helped define its aesthetic characterized by realistic depictions of Dutch landscapes and an emphasis on atmospheric effects.
His influence extended beyond his lifetime, inspiring subsequent generations of artists with his distinctive style and approach to landscape painting.
His works can be found in prominent collections such as the Rijksmuseum, testament to their enduring artistic merit and historical importance.
Maris’s legacy lies in his ability to capture the essence of the Dutch countryside through a unique blend of observation, technique, and artistic vision.
originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/jacob-henricus-maris-the-windmill-9HTQ5B-en/
Look closely
The windmill — Jacob Henricus Maris
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
The color that stands out most in "The windmill" is espresso (#4c564d). The dominant color is useful when matching an artwork to an interior.
"The windmill" by Jacob Henricus Maris is a portrait composition. The proportions are worth checking before choosing a print size.
Overall, "The windmill" is recorded as deep_shadow. Perceived brightness describes how light or dark the work appears.