A Windmill and Houses beside Water: Stormy Sky
- Artist: Jacob Maris
- Date: probably 1880-90
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is "A Windmill and Houses beside Water: Stormy Sky" by Jacob Maris. Painted in the Dutch tradition, it's a great example of Maris's late work. Notice how the artist has moved away from the smooth finish of his earlier paintings, instead opting for a looser, sketchier style using thick, often impasto, paint and broad visible brushstrokes.
The stormy sky dominates the painting, but take a closer look at the water below. It's not just any ordinary lake or river - it's floodwater that threatens to engulf the landscape. The artist's choice of a very low horizon is deliberate, emphasizing the precariousness of the low-lying land that was often reclaimed from the sea.
Maris's style may have changed over time, but his ability to capture the beauty and fragility of the Dutch countryside remains unchanged. This painting is a great example of how an artist can evolve while still staying true to their roots.
See it in person
A Windmill and Houses beside Water: Stormy Sky hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
