GUSTAV YKEMA'S ARTWORK

Willem Koekoek

By gykema

Willem Koekoek son of marine painter Hermanus Koeokoek Sr. was the only one of the extended family of painters to specialize in Dutch cityscape. Cornelis Springer was his great example. Koekoek lived in Amsterdam but made many sketching trips to Dutch cities. In 1888 he must have made a trip to London with his brother Hermanus Jr. who established himself there as an art dealer. His work was therefore regularly traded in the English capital. Willem Koekoek is widely regarded as one of the most talented painters of cityscapes. As a true representative of Dutch Romanticism, he emphasized the picturesque character of the Dutch cities. He was not always concerned about the topgraphical correctness of the composition. His cityscapes of cities such as Utrecht,The Hague,Amstelveen,Kampen or Enkhuizen are a combination of historical reconstruction and fantasy-capriccios. His paintings were especially popular abroad. They corresponed to the idyllic image of people had of the old Dutch towns.

Willem lived from 1839-1895

This painting was originally done oil on canvas size 27 1/4″x 21 1/4″ privately owned