Floris Arntzenius Dutch 1864-1925

Floris Arntzenius acquired great fame with his animated scenes of The Hague, the city where he spent almost his entire career. There he lived from 1892 onwards and was particularly fascinated by the crowded streets in the centre, where his studio was also located. The present lot, depicting a view of the Spuistraat, is a very fine example of the artist´s ability to merge the atmospheric, subdued tonalities of the Hague School with the modern, urban subjects favoured by the Tachtigers. In this respect, Arntzenius´ work is closely related to that of the Amsterdam Impressionists Isaac Israels and G.H. Breitner, artists he knew well. Arntzenius depicts the Spuistraat on a rainy day. With a quick yet sure hand he renders the promenading figures on the glistening street. The present lot features persons that often recur in Arntzenius´ town views, such as elegant ladies, a butcher´s boy dressed in white and, on the left foreground, the artist himself. This was very much how the artist regarded himself: not purely a sharp observer, but also a participant, for whom the city became life-long source of inspiration. The present lot always stayed in the hands of the family of the artist.