Lot 111 Dα

Max Clarenbach was accepted to the Düsseldorf Academy at the age of thirteen. He became a pupil of Eugen Dücker in 1897, and his teacher's works were initially a great inspiration for Clarenbach. The parallel composition of the present canvas betrays the influence of Dücker, who primarily worked as a marine painter. However, the use of considerably looser brushwork characterises Clarenbach's works.
The depiction of the overclouded sky occupies around three quarters of this large-format work, which Clarenbach painted at the age of 20. The lower quarter is taken up by a calm sea dotted with a few sailing boats. The thin strip of coastline between the two is thought to represent Holland, as Clarenbach is known to have visited the Dutch coast before 1900 on one of his many sojourns. The artist also set up a studio in Vlissingen for a short period.