✓ FREE SHIPPING WITHIN THE EU ✓ This vivid gouache portrait by Hans von Bartels captures a Katwijk fisherwoman with the immediacy and emotional resonance that define his finest work. Painted with his characteristically bold, assured strokes, the scene is nevertheless suffused with quiet dignity — a moment of rest and contemplation that reflects the deep respect he held for the coastal communities he portrayed. Born in Hamburg in 1856, Bartels trained with several prominent painters before settling in Munich, where he became renowned for his mastery of watercolour and gouache. Although equally accomplished in oil, it was these quicker, more spontaneous media that enabled him to work en plein air with unusual vitality, capturing not just the appearance but the very atmosphere of a place. Over time he developed a distinctive approach that fused broad, expressive brushwork with a rich, luminous palette, helping to establish watercolour and gouache as serious artistic mediums in their own right. His first visit to the Netherlands in 1887 proved transformative. Lodging simply among fishermen along the Eerste Duinpad in Katwijk aan Zee, Bartels was profoundly moved by the rhythms of work, weather, and daily life on the Dutch coast. The rugged beauty of the dunes and shoreline — and above all the resilience of the fishing families — became central to his artistic vision. From that summer onward, Katwijk became his second home; he returned year after year until his death in 1913, forging a lasting bond with the community. Within this environment he created some of his most compelling works: women mending nets, men preparing their boats, children playing in the wind, and the ever-shifting moods of sea and sky. Though celebrated for his dramatic marine paintings and larger studio oils, his gouaches from Katwijk are especially prized for their freshness and humanity. They reveal Bartels at his most direct and intuitive, working on site and responding moment by moment to light, weather, and the character of the people before him. This portrait belongs to that intimate body of work. With it, Bartels not only records a likeness but conveys the strength, endurance, and quiet poetry of coastal life — qualities that drew him back to Katwijk summer after summer and that continue to define his enduring legacy. more infos at https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_von_Bartels ⦿ Signed l.l.: von Bartels ⦿ Dimensions (approx.): 20 x 24 cm (artwork), 36 x 40 cm (incl. frame/total). ⦿ Condition: Exhibits an authentic patina of age. Tiny speckles of paint loss lower right. ⦿ Estimated Period: 1887 - 1913 ⦿ Note: The frame is included as a gift and should be treated as such. The book is not included as it merely serves as a reference. ⦿ Shipping: Safe ✓ Fast ✓ Eco-friendly ✓ Tracked ✓ Insured – Dispatched from Germany, or free pick-up available. ⦿ Each digital screen displays color differently, so please be aware that the actual item may appear slightly different in color than what you see on your computer or phone screen. ⦿ Please consider reusing or recycling the packaging. Thank you!