Albert Roelofs (1877-1920) - Stilleven van vis

Albert Roelofs (1877-1920). Large early fish still life. Dimensions of the painting 70 x 120 centimeters. Oil on canvas. Signed and dated (18)98. The painting shows signs of age and wear. It concerns an early work by this well-known painter.

Note: the frame shown is not part of the auction. It is offered for free to the highest bidder but only if they come to pick up the painting. This is because the frame is too large (140 x 90 cm) to ship.

Intense and rare early work by the Dutch artist Albert Roelofs, painted in 1898. This powerful fish still life dates from the early years of his career, before he gained national prominence with his refined interiors and elegant figure pieces.
On a rustic table, several fish and fish parts are laid out loosely, depicted in a rich palette of warm ocher, brown, and gold tones. The painter already shows here a remarkable sensitivity to atmosphere, light, and material expression. With a loose, confident brushwork he convincingly captures the gloss of the fish skin, the texture of the flesh, and the subtle reflections in the still life. The composition is painted in the tradition of Dutch 17th-century kitchen and market still lifes, and simultaneously possesses a modern, impressionistic freedom that would characterize Roelofs' later oeuvre. Early works by Albert Roelofs are rare on the market and offer a fascinating glimpse into the development of an artist who would later become one of the most beloved Hague painters of his generation.