Jcw Safft (amsterdam, 1778-1849) – Silhouettes In Front Of A Dutch Cottage, Pencil, Brown Wash
Artist: Johan Christiaan Willem Safft
Johan Christiaan Willem Safft (Amsterdam, 1778-1849)
Figures in front of a cottage / Sketch of a female face (verso)
16 x 20.1 cm
Black chalk and brown ink wash on watermarked paper
On the verso, red chalk drawing and stamp of the JCW Safft exhibition at the P. Gaubert gallery
Good overall condition, some foxing in the upper right
Provenance:
Descendants of the artist, Amsterdam
galerie Paul Gaubert, Paris, 1975
Private collection, France
Drawing sold with a custom-made mount, unframed
Dimensions of the mount : 26.5 x 33 cm
* * *
Johan Christiaan Willem Safft is a 19th-century Dutch artist whose graphic work, very well represented in the collections of the Rijksmuseum, deserves to be better known. Following in the footsteps of 18th-century artists such as Jacob Cats (1741-1799) and Pieter Barbiers II (1761-1842), whose pupil he was, Safft explored the possibilities of plein air drawing in the Dutch countryside. His scenes, where the anecdotal nature of the subject matter invites the viewer to better appreciate the charm of the landscape depicted, are particularly striking.
This everyday scene—a mother and child approaching a man sitting on a country lane—is magnified by Safft's exploration of the subtle effects of brown wash. From a black chalk drawing, his brush distributes light and shadow, animates the trees, and defines the architecture of the sun-drenched cottage, so typical of the Dutch countryside. This composition, dating from the 1830s or 1840s, is close to the aesthetic—and typical dimensions—of Safft's etchings, suggesting that it might be a research drawing for a print.
In 1975, the Galerie Paul Gaubert, located at 80 rue de Miromesnil in Paris, organized an exhibition of about one hundred drawings by Safft from the artist's descendants. As evidenced by the stamp on the back of the sheet, our drawing was included in this Parisian exhibition.
To further explore and learn about this artist, the online collections of the Rijksmuseum are an excellent introduction (link to the collections). It is also worth noting that the Boijmans Museum in Rotterdam holds a very fine drawing of trees by Safft: a masterful sheet, perfectly balanced, which demonstrates Safft's talent as a painter of nature. We also have one of these tree drawings: feel free to contact us for more information.
Figures in front of a cottage / Sketch of a female face (verso)
16 x 20.1 cm
Black chalk and brown ink wash on watermarked paper
On the verso, red chalk drawing and stamp of the JCW Safft exhibition at the P. Gaubert gallery
Good overall condition, some foxing in the upper right
Provenance:
Descendants of the artist, Amsterdam
galerie Paul Gaubert, Paris, 1975
Private collection, France
Drawing sold with a custom-made mount, unframed
Dimensions of the mount : 26.5 x 33 cm
* * *
Johan Christiaan Willem Safft is a 19th-century Dutch artist whose graphic work, very well represented in the collections of the Rijksmuseum, deserves to be better known. Following in the footsteps of 18th-century artists such as Jacob Cats (1741-1799) and Pieter Barbiers II (1761-1842), whose pupil he was, Safft explored the possibilities of plein air drawing in the Dutch countryside. His scenes, where the anecdotal nature of the subject matter invites the viewer to better appreciate the charm of the landscape depicted, are particularly striking.
This everyday scene—a mother and child approaching a man sitting on a country lane—is magnified by Safft's exploration of the subtle effects of brown wash. From a black chalk drawing, his brush distributes light and shadow, animates the trees, and defines the architecture of the sun-drenched cottage, so typical of the Dutch countryside. This composition, dating from the 1830s or 1840s, is close to the aesthetic—and typical dimensions—of Safft's etchings, suggesting that it might be a research drawing for a print.
In 1975, the Galerie Paul Gaubert, located at 80 rue de Miromesnil in Paris, organized an exhibition of about one hundred drawings by Safft from the artist's descendants. As evidenced by the stamp on the back of the sheet, our drawing was included in this Parisian exhibition.
To further explore and learn about this artist, the online collections of the Rijksmuseum are an excellent introduction (link to the collections). It is also worth noting that the Boijmans Museum in Rotterdam holds a very fine drawing of trees by Safft: a masterful sheet, perfectly balanced, which demonstrates Safft's talent as a painter of nature. We also have one of these tree drawings: feel free to contact us for more information.
350 €
Period: 19th century
Style: Other Style
Condition: Good condition
Material: Paper
Width: 20,1 cm
Height: 16 cm
Reference (ID): 1699529
Availability: In stock
Print
