In Danger
Hendrik Willem Mesdag
Brooklyn Museum photograph
Object Label
Hendrik Willem Mesdag and his counterparts in the Hague School—so named for the Dutch city where they lived and worked—painted in the open air, capturing the distinctive landscapes and seascapes of the Netherlands. For the Dutch, who relied heavily on fishing and overseas trade, marine scenes proved extremely appealing subjects. Mesdag shows a small ship with wind-torn sails, tossed by massive, white-capped waves. The broad expanse of churning water, almost matching the tone of the sky, dramatizes the overwhelming power of the sea.
Caption
Hendrik Willem Mesdag (Dutch, 1831–1915). In Danger, ca. 1895. Oil on canvas, 35 13/16 × 49 7/16 in. (91 × 125.6 cm) frame: 51 × 64 3/4 × 4 in. (129.5 × 164.5 × 10.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. James Quinlan in memory of her husband, 26.604. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Gallery
Not on view
Gallery
Not on view
Artist
Title
In Danger
Date
ca. 1895
Geography
Place made: Europe
Medium
Oil on canvas
Classification
Dimensions
35 13/16 × 49 7/16 in. (91 × 125.6 cm) frame: 51 × 64 3/4 × 4 in. (129.5 × 164.5 × 10.2 cm)
Signatures
Signed lower right: "H W. Mesdag"
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. James Quinlan in memory of her husband
Accession Number
26.604
Frequent Art Questions
What period is this from?
It is from the late 19th century; curators estimate the date at 1895. The artist, Hendrik Willem Mesdag, was among a group of Dutch painters known as the Hague School, who worked in that city from about 1870 to 1900. Their work is Realist in style and they were especially influenced by earlier French Realist landscape painters known as the Barbizon School (c. 1830s-1870s), as well as by the 17th-century Dutch landscape tradition. Unlike other Realist painters of the period, these artists preferred to emphasize a particular tone in their painting, which earned them the nickname of the ‘Grey school’.Mesdag really chose his colors and his composition to create a mood so this painting also has a distinct Romantic quality. But he was also a careful and direct observer of nature. He painted this storm from sketches he made on-site on the beach near the Hague. The line between the Romantic era and the beginning of Realism isn't always clear. Often times movements don't end so 'neat and tidy' but blur together during times of transitions.I don’t know anything about Mesdag. But I like In Danger. It reminds me of Winslow Homer. What can you tell me about him?
Hendrik Willem Mesdag, was among a group of Dutch painters known as the Hague School, who worked in that city from about 1870 to 1900. Their work is Realist in style and they were especially influenced by earlier French Realist landscape painters known as the Barbizon School (c. 1830s-1870s), as well as by the 17th-century Dutch landscape tradition.Unlike other Realist painters of the period, these artists preferred to emphasize a particular tone in their painting, which earned them the nickname of the ‘Grey school’.Very interesting. Thanks!
Have information?
Have information about an artwork? Contact us at