Gezicht op een rivier door een stad, mogelijk in Italië 1967 - 1971

This little painting, possibly of an Italian city, was made by Norbert van den Berg, sometime in the mid-20th century, likely with oil on some kind of board or panel. It's about seeing and feeling a place; a city, a river, the sky, maybe even a memory. The colour is restrained but confident, with cool greys playing off earthy browns and muted greens. The paint application is pretty thin, almost like a wash in some areas, particularly in the water, letting the surface breathe through. Looking at the church tower, there's this wonderful sense of form emerging from the ground, built with subtle strokes and variations in tone. It’s not about the details, but the overall impression, the feeling of a solid structure reaching for the sky. Van den Berg seems to be having a conversation with artists like Corot or even some of the early Impressionists, all those painters who were more interested in capturing a mood than a perfect likeness. It’s a gentle reminder that art doesn’t always need to shout to be heard.