Antique Painting of Mother and Infant by Bernard De Hoog (Dutch, 1866-1943)

Description

JOHANN BERNARD DE HOOG
Dutch, 1866-1943

Interior Scene of a Mother and Infant Daughter

Oil on canvas | signed Bernard … more JOHANN BERNARD DE HOOG
Dutch, 1866-1943

Interior Scene of a Mother and Infant Daughter

Oil on canvas | signed Bernard de Hoog lower right

Item # 407QDS10A

An endearing scene that captures the essence of the home, de Hoog is careful to choose his light in a way that highlights the focal points of the austere scene while creating dramatic shadows as the table and figure block the sunlight pouring through an unseen window before her. The surface is characterized by an energetic and vigorous brushwork using a loaded brush for medium impasto that borders on Impressionistic. Bold strokes deliver heavy layers of pigment that are worked and reworked while the paint was still wet, bringing darker underlying colors through to the brighter pigments overlayed. It is De Hoog's ability to walk that perfect balance between the evocative and the starkly realist that makes his work so completely magical. The present example is a very good representation of this, capturing the mannerisms of the contented infant with her endlessly moving fingers as the young mother begins to soothe her sore gums with her index finger.

The work is signed in the lower right corner in his typical script "Bernard de Hoog" and is housed in a wonderful contemporary carved giltwood frame that perfectly compliments the scene.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Born in Amsterdam, Holland in 1886, Bernard de Hoog wanted to pursue art studies after showing some talent at a young age, but this was against the wishes of his father and instead he went to work in a merchant's office. The merchant saw a sample of his studies and commissioned de Hoog to paint a portrait of his wife. Following this encouragement, de Hoog studied under a drawing master and later at the Quellinus School in Amsterdam with the assistance of a subsidy by the queen. There he was pupil to Johann Frederick Hulk Sr. and worked under the famous animal painter Jan van Essen. He was heavily influenced by the technical excellence and realism of the Hague School and deeply admired the old masters, copying works of Pieter de Hooch and Frans Hals.

It was from his first major show in 1886 that his work began to gain visibility with his Amsterdam exhibition of During the Sermon in New Church. He continued to exhibit throughout Holland, but also became well known internationally where his works were exported to ready markets in England, Canada and the United States. Rather insightful auction records during his lifetime show his works hitting the secondary market as early as 1907. His work of Humble Interiorwas offered in New York in 1911 when he was 45 years old where it achieved $ 1000 USD, an inflation adjusted figure coming to just over $ 25,000 in today's dollars.

Throughout his career, de Hoog remained disciplined and focused on his specialization. True to the principles of the Hague School, his emphasis was on tangible subjects, true surroundings, tender moments and technical superiority in the use of light to create atmosphere. His work tended towards family scenes, often interior paintings with a mother and her children at the center of his focus, usually depicting humble circumstances and peasant life unapologetically. Not one to romanticize poverty, the body of his work rather captures the dignity of hard work and the highlights the richness of a loving home and deep relationships. While his work certainly has an appreciation for the masters of the 18th and 19th centuries, there is a distinctly modern element in his work that is borderline Impressionist with a heavy impasto and vigorous brush work. His work is always characterized by translucency of light, warm atmosphere, an incredibly diverse palette and rich color development, complexity of character portrayal and the genuine nature of his subjects.

Artist Listings & Bibliography:

E. Benezit Dictionary of Artists, Vol. VII, Gründ, 2006, p. 273-74


Measurements: 33 1/4" H x 27 1/4" W x 2 1/8" D [frame]; 27 1/4" H x 21 1/4" W [canvas]

Condition Report:
Professionally cleaned and sealed in traditional Dammar varnish. Linen in excellent condition, unlined. Original stretcher with all keys present. Ground layer in excellent condition with light craquelure throughout. Tiny pinhole loss center top (inpainted). Largely untouched under UV examination. Frame is contemporary with only minor wear. A very fine presentation. less