Martin van Waning was a versatile painter. For a long time he lived in Wiesbaden, where he achieved success with his Dutch landscapes and water views of Rotterdam and Dordrecht. After his return to The Hague in 1917, he expanded his repertoire with Veluwe landscapes and views of the island of Schiermonnikoog in wide-ranging scenes with high skies. He also had a predilection for painting mythological scenes and was involved in making sculptures.