Quadrant: Four themes of Petrus van der Velden, 20 October 2006 – 25 March 2007

The Gallery has in its collection several of Van der Velden’s sketchbooks, which provide a fascinating insight into the artist’s working methods. Van der Velden filled these two sketchbooks on his visits to Marken, and later used the drawings as sources for his oil paintings. They are full of spontaneous sketches and studies, highlighting the role of the artist quietly and unobtrusively observing and recording life in the village. This is nowhere more evident than in his observations of the emotional scenes of the fisherman’s funeral.