Hermanus Willem Koekkoek artwork • painting • previously for sale Prussian infantry on the march

A pupil of his father, Willem Koekkoek, until 1901 Hermanus Willem worked mainly in Amsterdam and then spent 20 years in London, where he had previously lived from 1887 to 1891. Best known as a painter of military engagements, many of his paintings depict battle scenes from the French-German war (1870-1871) based on his own solid historical research. However, from correspondence with one of his London dealers, it seems Hermanus Willem’s choice of subject matter was more varied than is nowadays assumed. Along with military scenes, he also painted impressionist landscapes, cityscapes and even the occasional still life. Exhibition lists from his Dutch galleries also give the same impression of a surprisingly versatile painter.