Lot 1084 D α

To the modern observer, it is impossible to imagine that Aert van der Neer's nocturnes had such little success during his lifetime. The warm light of the Italianate landscapes or the sublime native Dutch motifs chosen by painters such as Jacob van Ruisdael seem to have been more popular. His night scenes began to be more appreciated during the Romantic period by the very latest, and were valued for their atmospheric landscapes, the nuances achieved through a monochrome colour palette, and the dramatic use of light.
The present work depicts a lake at sunrise. The water stretches across the entire length of the image and is flanked on either side by tall trees and fishermen's huts. In the centre foreground of the work we see three men catching fish with a large net. In the background, the sun rises up through the clouded sky above the silhouette of a city and paints the horizon in warm, reddish-yellow hues. This light is again reflected in the water of the foreground, providing subtle illumination and casting long shadows where the fishermen stand. Apart from this, the scene is characterised by the subtle grey and brown tones of the trees, shrubs, houses, and fences. The artist enlivens the landscape with just a few pale red spots of sunlight, such as the softly illuminated roof of the house on the left or the chimneys on the right, indicating to the beholder that the fishermen have risen early to prepare their catch.