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Willem Roelofsartist • painter • watercolourist • draughtsmanAmsterdam 1822-1897 Berchem (België)

biography of Willem Roelofs

Portrait of artist, painter, watercolourist and draughtsman Willem Roelofs

Portrait of Willem Roelofs

Willem Roelofs (1822-1897) is sometimes called the great predecessor of the Hague School. He painted forest scenes and wide-ranging landscapes in which he managed to hit the wide and flat of the Dutch polder landscape with its water and cows. The first twenty-five years of his life Willem Roelofs lived alternately in Utrecht and The Hague, where he was taught by the animal and landscape painter Hendrikus van de Sande Bakhuyzen. In 1847 he moved to Brussels. The art climate there was more favorable for a novice painter than in the Netherlands. He did, however, remain an active member of Pulchri Studio and kept in touch with art life in The Hague. Roelofs would continue to live in Brussels for 40 years. He had almost immediate success with his paintings. Through exhibitions he became acquainted with work by the painters of Barbizon. He would adopt the realism with which they captured nature. He himself probably traveled for the first time in 1851, and as one of the first Dutchmen, to the forests of Fontainebleau.
Roelofs first sought his inspiration in the vicinity of Brussels, from 1856 he traveled annually to the Netherlands. Like his colleagues from the Hague School, he was interested in the landscape that had hitherto been considered too ordinary in our country: the polder land with windmills, swampy meadows with cows under heavy cloudy skies, moors and rivers. First he went to Drenthe, later he looked for idyllic spots along the Gein, around the Nieuwkoopse Plassen and near Loosdrecht. For him, it was about capturing the mood and light of the moment into reality, which were constantly changing on cloudy days. He carefully collected his impressions in sketches and oil studies on canvas, which he used in the elaboration of the painting in his studio. It is known that Roelofs made a lot of it. A good outdoor study, as Roelofs called it, had to have 'the breath of nature' in it and served as a reminder when making the painting. He often provided these oil studies with inscriptions stating the place or month and sometimes a number, which corresponded to other oil sketches from the same region. The appreciation of contemporaries for the immediacy of these landscapes is evident from the fact that they were regularly sold as independent works of art.
In the Netherlands, his innovations in the field of landscape art were only fully recognized in the 1970s and he is referred to by contemporaries as the 'pioneering of modern Dutch painting'. Museums in Belgium and the Netherlands buy his work during these years. In 1887 Roelofs returned permanently to The Hague.

for salepaintings, watercolours and drawings by Willem Roelofs


Willem Roelofs | The 't Hoog- en Groenland mill, Baambrugge, oil on canvas, 46.9 x 72.9 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • for sale

The 't Hoog- en Groenland mill, Baambrugge

Willem Roelofs | River landscape with drinking cows, oil on canvas, 69.1 x 106.9 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • for sale

River landscape with drinking cows

Willem Roelofs | Polder landscape with windmills and an angler, oil on panel, 24.3 x 40.4 cm, signed l.r. and dated '56

Willem Roelofs

painting • for sale

Polder landscape with windmills and an angler

Willem Roelofs | Farm in Drenthe, oil on canvas laid down on panel, 24.8 x 39.6 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • for sale

Farm in Drenthe

Willem Roelofs | Behind the farm, oil on panel, 22.1 x 37.7 cm, signed l.r. and painted ca. 1855-1860

Willem Roelofs

painting • for sale

Behind the farm

Willem Roelofs | Farmstead with shepherdess, cows and sheep, oil on panel, 23.2 x 36.0 cm, signed l.l. and painted ca. 1861-1867

Willem Roelofs

painting • for sale

Farmstead with shepherdess, cows and sheep

Willem Roelofs | Landschaft mit Bleichfeld, watercolour on paper, 51.0 x 70.8 cm, signed l.l. and painted in the 1880's

Willem Roelofs

watercolour • drawing • for sale

Landschaft mit Bleichfeld


previously for salepaintings, watercolours and drawings by Willem Roelofs


Willem Roelofs | The 't Hoog- en Groenland mill, Baambrugge, oil on canvas, 46.9 x 72.9 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

The 't Hoog- en Groenland mill, Baambrugge

Willem Roelofs | River landscape with drinking cows, oil on canvas, 69.1 x 106.9 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

River landscape with drinking cows

Willem Roelofs | The river Gein near the Velderslaan, Abcoude - Mondriaan avant la lettre, oil on canvas laid down on panel, 30.3 x 44.0 cm, signed l.r. and dated 'Juillet' 1881 on the reverse

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

The river Gein near the Velderslaan, Abcoude - Mondriaan avant la lettre

Willem Roelofs | The dolmen of Tynaarlo, Drenthe, oil on panel, 28.9 x 46.2 cm, signed l.r. with initials and painted ca. 1863-1870

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

The dolmen of Tynaarlo, Drenthe

Willem Roelofs | Row of poplars, oil on panel, 26.0 x 35.2 cm, signed l.l. with initials and painted ca. 1851-1855

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Row of poplars

Willem Roelofs | A polder landscape, oil on panel, 25.8 x 48.2 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A polder landscape

Willem Roelofs | Rainy weather, oil on canvas, 25.1 x 44.8 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Rainy weather

Willem Roelofs | Along the forest edge, oil on canvas, 48.4 x 69.0 cm, signed l.r. and painted ca. 1850

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Along the forest edge

Willem Roelofs | Milking time, oil on canvas, 37.3 x 58.4 cm, signed l.l. and painted ca. 1886

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Milking time

Willem Roelofs | Angler on a lake near Noorden, oil on canvas, 68.3 x 100.2 cm, signed l.l. and painted ca. 1880-1888

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Angler on a lake near Noorden

Willem Roelofs | A vilage canal with a woman doing her laundry (possibly Edam), oil on panel, 31.5 x 24.5 cm, signed l.l. and painted ca. 1861-1867

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A vilage canal with a woman doing her laundry (possibly Edam)

Willem Roelofs | Cows at the water's edge, Loosdrecht, oil on canvas, 27.0 x 44.4 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Cows at the water's edge, Loosdrecht

Willem Roelofs | Cowherd with cows in the woods, oil on panel, 56.1 x 45.8 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Cowherd with cows in the woods

Willem Roelofs | Aux environs d'Abcoude, oil on canvas laid down on panel, 26.7 x 43.8 cm, signed l.r. and dated 1881 on the reverse

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Aux environs d'Abcoude

Willem Roelofs | Drinking cows, Lanaije, oil on canvas, 43.7 x 28.5 cm, signed l.l. and painted ca. 1884

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Drinking cows, Lanaije

Willem Roelofs | A polder landscape with a farmer's wife bleaching clothes, oil on panel, 23.0 x 45.1 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A polder landscape with a farmer's wife bleaching clothes

Willem Roelofs | Cows wading, oil on canvas, 30.0 x 44.8 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Cows wading

Willem Roelofs | Landscape with sheep near a farm, oil on canvas laid down on panel, 27.7 x 44.0 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Landscape with sheep near a farm

Willem Roelofs | Activity by a cottage, oil on panel, 20.2 x 33.4 cm, signed l.r. and dated 1856

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Activity by a cottage

Willem Roelofs | Cattle in a landscape, oil on panel, 15.0 x 25.0 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Cattle in a landscape

Willem Roelofs | Après-midi, Loosdrecht, oil on canvas, 26.7 x 44.6 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Après-midi, Loosdrecht

Willem Roelofs | Willows at the waterfront, Loosdrecht, oil on canvas, 26.5 x 44.0 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Willows at the waterfront, Loosdrecht

Willem Roelofs | Moored vessels in Leidschendam, oil on panel, 15.3 x 18.6 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Moored vessels in Leidschendam

Willem Roelofs | Loosdrecht, oil on canvas laid down on panel, 26.3 x 44.1 cm, signed l.l. and painted ca. 1881

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Loosdrecht

Willem Roelofs | Cows in a water landscape, oil on canvas, 24.2 x 38.9 cm, signed l.r. and painted ca. 1880

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Cows in a water landscape

Willem Roelofs | Meadow near Abcoude, oil on canvas laid down on panel, 21.3 x 40.5 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Meadow near Abcoude

Willem Roelofs | Near the Abcoude lake, oil on canvas laid down on panel, 29.0 x 44.7 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Near the Abcoude lake

Willem Roelofs | Waterlilies, oil on canvas, 41.1 x 58.3 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Waterlilies

Willem Roelofs | Two windmills in the Stolwijk polder (near Gouda), oil on panel, 14.8 x 24.0 cm, signed l.l. and painted ca. 1872-1875

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Two windmills in the Stolwijk polder (near Gouda)

Willem Roelofs | Drinking cows on the waterside, oil on panel, 17.2 x 27.1 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Drinking cows on the waterside

Willem Roelofs | Polder landscape with cows, oil on canvas, 49.5 x 80.0 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Polder landscape with cows

Willem Roelofs | Cattle in a landscape, oil on panel, 15.0 x 25.0 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Cattle in a landscape

Willem Roelofs | Cattle in a polder landscape, oil on canvas, 84.0 x 139.0 cm, signed l.r. and painted circa 1860

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Cattle in a polder landscape

Willem Roelofs | An extensive lake landscape near Noorden, oil on canvas laid down on panel, 28.3 x 45.1 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

An extensive lake landscape near Noorden

Willem Roelofs | A polder landscape with windmills, oil on panel, 28.0 x 59.0 cm, signed l.r. and painted in 1880-1885

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A polder landscape with windmills

Willem Roelofs | A rainbow, oil on canvas, 69.0 x 94.2 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A rainbow

Willem Roelofs | A canal near Schiedam, oil on panel, 35.3 x 63.2 cm, signed l.r. and painted in 1867

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A canal near Schiedam

Willem Roelofs | Polder landscape between Abcoude and Weesp, oil on canvas laid down on panel, 26.9 x 41.8 cm

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Polder landscape between Abcoude and Weesp

Willem Roelofs | A wooded landscape, oil on panel, 66.8 x 99.8 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A wooded landscape

Willem Roelofs | A landscape near Putte, Belgium, oil on canvas, 48.0 x 75.3 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A landscape near Putte, Belgium

Willem Roelofs | A Dutch polder landscape, oil on canvas, 44.6 x 69.5 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A Dutch polder landscape

Willem Roelofs | A forest landscape with watering cows, oil on canvas laid down on panel, 43.7 x 28.7 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A forest landscape with watering cows

Willem Roelofs | Windmills in a polder landscape, oil on panel, 12.0 x 19.0 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Windmills in a polder landscape

Willem Roelofs | Farmstead in summer, Drenthe, oil on canvas, 45.4 x 71.2 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Farmstead in summer, Drenthe

Willem Roelofs | Smockmills along a canal, oil on panel, 14.5 x 12.9 cm, signed l.l. and dated '56

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Smockmills along a canal

Willem Roelofs | Figures in a hilly landscape, oil on canvas, 59.0 x 79.1 cm, signed c.r. and painted circa 1842

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Figures in a hilly landscape

Willem Roelofs | Cows on the riverbank, oil on canvas, 24.0 x 44.2 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Cows on the riverbank

Willem Roelofs | A landscape with a haycart, oil on canvas laid down on panel, 23.0 x 41.2 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A landscape with a haycart

Willem Roelofs | A polder landscape, oil on canvas, 31.0 x 43.5 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A polder landscape

Willem Roelofs | A heath landscape, oil on canvas laid down on panel, 24.1 x 41.1 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A heath landscape

Willem Roelofs | Cows in a meadow, oil on panel, 17.8 x 32.2 cm

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Cows in a meadow

Willem Roelofs | A river landscape with windmill, oil on panel, 23.7 x 28.8 cm, signed l.r. with monogram and dated 1841

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A river landscape with windmill

Willem Roelofs | Boerenlandschap, oil on panel, 35.3 x 63.2 cm, gesigneerd r.o. and te dateren 1867

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Boerenlandschap

Willem Roelofs | A polder landscape, oil on panel, 21.0 x 34.0 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A polder landscape

Willem Roelofs | View of the river Gein, oil on canvas, 45.9 x 72.2 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

View of the river Gein

Willem Roelofs | Anglers in a polder landscape, oil on canvas, 47.5 x 74.5 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Anglers in a polder landscape

Willem Roelofs | A polder landscape, oil on canvas, 31.0 x 43.5 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A polder landscape

Willem Roelofs | Schoolroom, oil on panel, 24.0 x 30.4 cm, signed l.c. and dated 1839

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Schoolroom

Willem Roelofs | Windmills along a canal, oil on canvas, 68.5 x 99.5 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Windmills along a canal

Willem Roelofs | A ruin in a wooded landscape, oil on panel, 19.6 x 24.7 cm, signed l.l. and dated 1940

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A ruin in a wooded landscape

Willem Roelofs | Houses along a waterway, oil on panel, 33.4 x 48.2 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Houses along a waterway

Willem Roelofs | Heuvelachtig boslandschap, oil on canvas, 59.0 x 79.1 cm, gesigneerd r.v.h.m. and te dateren ca. 1842

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Heuvelachtig boslandschap

Willem Roelofs | A stream, oil on canvas laid down on painter's board, 23.0 x 40.5 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A stream

Willem Roelofs | Houses along a waterway, oil on panel, 33.4 x 48.0 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Houses along a waterway

Willem Roelofs | Farmyard 'Ruurlo', oil on canvas laid down on panel, 24.3 x 39.5 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Farmyard 'Ruurlo'

Willem Roelofs | Cows grazing near Gouda, oil on panel, 22.5 x 41.2 cm, signed twice

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Cows grazing near Gouda

Willem Roelofs | A polder landscape with windmills, oil on canvas, 68.5 x 99.5 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A polder landscape with windmills

Willem Roelofs | A landscape with cows grazing, oil on panel, 7.5 x 12.4 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A landscape with cows grazing

Willem Roelofs | A landscape near Gouda, oil on panel, 29.8 x 44.0 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A landscape near Gouda

Willem Roelofs | Cows watering, oil on canvas, 70.0 x 101.0 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Cows watering

Willem Roelofs | Water mill, oil on panel, 17.7 x 25.8 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Water mill

Willem Roelofs | A yard with a well, oil on canvas laid down on panel, 42.5 x 66.0 cm, signed l.l. and dated 1855

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A yard with a well

Willem Roelofs | Cows grazing, the river Lek in the distance, oil on panel, 12.4 x 27.5 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Cows grazing, the river Lek in the distance

Willem Roelofs | A cow, oil on canvas laid down on panel, 26.7 x 44.0 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A cow

Willem Roelofs | A polder landscape, oil on panel, 28.0 x 50.4 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A polder landscape

Willem Roelofs | A polder landscape with windmills, oil on canvas, 46.0 x 73.0 cm

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A polder landscape with windmills

Willem Roelofs | A river landscape with a rainbow, oil on canvas, 47.4 x 74.0 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

A river landscape with a rainbow

Willem Roelofs | Cows on the riverbank of the river Gein, oil on canvas, 109.4 x 174.5 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Cows on the riverbank of the river Gein

Willem Roelofs | Polder landscape, oil on panel, 35.5 x 68.5 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Polder landscape

Willem Roelofs | Cows in a meadow, Voorn Utrecht, oil on canvas laid down on panel, 25.7 x 40.5 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Cows in a meadow, Voorn Utrecht

Willem Roelofs | Mountainous landscape with cows, oil on canvas laid down on panel, 12.0 x 26.3 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Mountainous landscape with cows

Willem Roelofs | Village along a waterway, oil on canvas laid down on panel, 16.8 x 38.5 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Village along a waterway

Willem Roelofs | Angler in a forest landscape, oil on panel, 25.0 x 35.5 cm, signed l.r. and dated '51

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Angler in a forest landscape

Willem Roelofs | Cows in a meadow, oil on panel, 11.2 x 20.4 cm, signed l.r. and l.l. and dated 1882

Willem Roelofs

painting • previously for sale

Cows in a meadow

Willem Roelofs | Ducks in the water under willow trees, watercolour on paper, 33.7 x 47.9 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

watercolour • drawing • previously for sale

Ducks in the water under willow trees

Willem Roelofs | A windmill in a hilly landscape, ink and watercolour on paper, 19.9 x 28.0 cm, signed l.r. and dated 1847

Willem Roelofs

watercolour • drawing • previously for sale

A windmill in a hilly landscape

Willem Roelofs | A farmer's wife on a country road, watercolour on paper, 33.1 x 49.4 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

watercolour • drawing • previously for sale

A farmer's wife on a country road

Willem Roelofs | Cows in a polder landscape, watercolour on paper, 36.3 x 49.7 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

watercolour • drawing • previously for sale

Cows in a polder landscape

Willem Roelofs | A town view, watercolour on paper, 30.4 x 51.1 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

watercolour • drawing • previously for sale

A town view

Willem Roelofs | Chickens on a yard, Putten, watercolour on paper, 29.5 x 45.0 cm, signed l.r. and dated 1876

Willem Roelofs

watercolour • drawing • previously for sale

Chickens on a yard, Putten

Willem Roelofs | A moored flatboat, watercolour on paper, 16.0 x 23.0 cm, signed l.l.

Willem Roelofs

watercolour • drawing • previously for sale

A moored flatboat

Willem Roelofs | Anglers near a river, watercolour on paper, 21.2 x 33.2 cm, signed l.r.

Willem Roelofs

watercolour • drawing • previously for sale

Anglers near a river


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