Description

A signed limited print may be available of this piece! (click here)

Take a stroll down an old street in Rotterdam, Netherlands; a place of charm and history.

At its heart stands a stunning building, its bricks painted in a bright terracotta that catches the eye. The street is lined with colorful flowers, adding bursts of red that contrast beautifully with the warm tones of the building. Above, the sky is a swirl of beautiful puffy clouds, painted in soft, flowing lines that give the scene a sense of movement and vitality.

Dad's art studio was a magical place filled with paintings, drawings, brushes, and vibrant paints. Among all the beautiful paintings, this one always stood out to me. Many years after its creation, I asked Dad about the building depicted, but he couldn't remember what it was. Honestly, he likely never knew because Dad had little interest in the history of his scenes. His focus was completely on beauty and composition.

After a significant search on the Internet, I found it!

Built in 1565, this renaissance styled structure used to be the seat of the city's government- The Old City Hall, in the Hague region. Today, it hosts weddings, including royal ones.

• You can learn more about The Old City Hall by clicking here

In 1977, Dad took a 5 month solo painting journey to Europe. In that year, he traveled to England, France, Italy, and the Netherlands, and this piece was one of the many works he created during that voyage.

Dad was a classically trained artist from the European school. He had a unique style. His works combined elements of expressionism, fauvism, and impressionism. His brush strokes were bold and full of emotion, bringing each scene to life in ways that felt both real and dreamlike, and those artistic elements are clear in this wonderful piece.

On this summer day in 1977, Dad was exploring the Netherlands. He created this beautiful painting in Rotterdam.

Through My Father's Eyes