Firenze (1921)

Willem Adrianus Grondhout prints are quiet, finely drawn etchings of towns and countryside in the Netherlands and across Europe. Grondhout recorded barns and farmyards around Voorburg and The Hague, old Dutch towns such as Veere, Enkhuizen and Haarlem, and travel views of Paris, London, Florence and Burgos. Our collection of fine art prints draws on the large group of his prints held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

About Willem Adrianus Grondhout

Willem Adrianus Grondhout was a Dutch printmaker who lived from 1888 to 1934, according to the records of the Rijksmuseum. Little is published about his life. His prints show that he worked mostly around The Hague and nearby Voorburg, where he drew farms, sheds, mills and village streets again and again.

He also travelled widely. Dated prints in the collection run from Haarlem in 1907 and Nijmegen in 1912 to London in 1915, Veere in 1918–19 and Florence in 1921, with views of Paris, Chartres, Le Puy, Bruges, Ulm, Verona and Burgos along the way.

Many of his prints came to the Rijksmuseum in 1938 as a gift from Mrs Grondhout-Heshusius of The Hague, four years after his death.

Style and Subjects

Grondhout worked in etching, using a light, open line and plenty of white paper. His Dutch subjects are humble and intimate: a chicken coop in a garden, barns beside a ditch, a small bridge in Katwijk, moored boats in a harbour. Buildings are drawn with care, but the mood is relaxed and sketch-like.

His travel prints take on grander subjects, such as Notre-Dame, the cathedral of Burgos and the bridges of the Thames, but keep the same calm, unhurried touch. Together they read like a personal travel diary in black and white.

Famous Works

• Landscape with a Mill in the Binckhorst, The Hague (1916), Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. A windmill on the edge of The Hague.
• Chicken Coop in a Garden in Voorburg (1914), Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. A homely corner of the village he drew most.
• Bridge over the Thames in London (1915), Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. A London bridge from his travels.
• Veere (1919), Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. The old harbour town in Zeeland.
• Haarlem (1907), Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. One of his earliest dated prints.
• Firenze (1921), Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Florence seen by a Dutch etcher.
• Notre-Dame in Paris, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. The great cathedral in delicate line.

Decorating with Grondhout Prints

Grondhout's small etchings suit a hallway, study or bedroom, and they look charming hung close together in a row or grid. The Dutch village scenes bring a calm, countryside feel to a kitchen or breakfast room.

His travel views make a fine set for anyone who loves Paris, London or Italy, and they work well in a home office or reading corner. Thin black or oak frames with wide white mats suit the light, open lines.

FAQ

Who was Willem Adrianus Grondhout?

A Dutch etcher (1888–1934, according to the Rijksmuseum) who made prints of towns and countryside in the Netherlands and across Europe.

What did Grondhout etch?

Mostly farms, barns, mills and streets around Voorburg and The Hague, old Dutch towns, and travel views of Paris, London, Florence, Verona, Burgos and other cities.

Where can I see Grondhout's prints?

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam holds a large group, many of them given in 1938 by Mrs Grondhout-Heshusius of The Hague.

When did Grondhout make his prints?

Dated prints in the collection run from 1907 to 1921, though most are undated.

Is Grondhout well known?

Not widely. Very little has been published about him, and his prints are known mainly through the Rijksmuseum collection.

Related Artists

• Willem Witsen: Dutch etcher of city views of the generation before
• Jan Veth: Dutch printmaker and portraitist of the same era
• Marius Bauer: Dutch etcher of travel scenes
• Charles Meryon: the great etcher of Paris and Notre-Dame