This early 20th-century oil painting by German artist Hedwig Lindenberg (1866-1951) depicts a fishing boat at dusk.
Here, under the resplendent glow of the evening sun, waves bully a rowboat with five silhouetted occupants. Their oars are near-redundant amid the eminent force of a crashing breaker. The burning sky seems to merge with the illuminated sea, creating a wrapping effect around the intrepid rowers. It’s a powerful scene with broad rhythmical marks and areas of impasto.
Lindenberg was transfixed by maritime drama, producing numerous views of turbulent conditions. Most of these appear to be studies from life, so perhaps she was a keen sailor, enduring the perils first-hand. She spent most of her working life in Düsseldorf and became a member of various organisations. As a woman, she sought private tuition rather than attend the formal academies.
Her works rarely surface and this is a fine example.
Signed in the lower right and framed.
Medium: Oil on wood
Overall size: 18½” x 15½” / 47cm x 39cm
Year of creation: c. 1902
Labels & Inscriptions: Inscription and artist’s bio on reverse.
Provenance: Private collection, Germany.
Condition: Artwork presents well. Frame with some light wear.
Hedwig Lindenberg was a German artist predominantly known for her impressionistic maritime scenes, which usually include turbulent conditions and dense skies. She trained privately in Düsseldorf with the landscape painters, Morten Müller and Ludvig Munthe, and also the marine painter Carl Becker. The Düsseldorf City Museum holds examples of her work.
Learn more about Hedwig Lindenberg in our directory.
We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also often restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.
