Houses on a Waterway near Crooswijk 1874

Johan Barthold Jongkind painted this oil on canvas of houses on a waterway near Crooswijk in 1874. Jongkind was a Dutch painter who spent much of his career in France, and this particular work reflects his engagement with the shifting cultural and economic landscape of 19th-century Europe. While it may appear to simply depict a peaceful waterside scene, it also provides insight into urbanization and its impact on the working class. The waterways would have been essential transport routes for goods and people, the lifeblood of trade and industry. Jongkind, influenced by the Barbizon school, brings an atmospheric, almost romantic quality to his landscapes which shifts the focus from the industrial to the ethereal. This painting invites us to consider the relationship between progress and preservation, and how artists like Jongkind captured these tensions. As you reflect on the image, think about how these serene scenes can reflect the changing society that lay just beneath the surface.