Port Entrance at Volendam 1896

Theo van Rysselberghe created this oil on canvas titled "Port Entrance at Volendam" at an unknown date. Volendam was a small fishing village in the Netherlands, a land known for its waterways and windmills, and its complicated relationship to the sea. By the late 19th century it had become a haven for artists searching for a more authentic vision of Dutch life than could be found in the cities. Van Rysselberghe, associated with the pointillist movement, uses small dots of pure colour to build up a scene of tranquil leisure. Electric lighting and comfortable benches speak to new investments in public space. The painting's relatively high vantage point may be informed by new developments in urban planning. Note the windmills on the horizon. The meaning of this and similar paintings by Van Rysselberghe is contingent on the culture of the time, and on the artist's relation to it. Scholarly resources such as exhibition catalogues, historic reviews, and the artist's correspondence help us to understand that relation more completely.