Houses along a Canal with a Bridge

Wenckebach originally trained as a gardener, but after painting lessons he turned to a career in the visual arts. His images of old Amsterdam remain admired, but his favorite subjects were landscapes and rural scenes. He was also was active as a book designer and illustrator. In this image the two areas of activity seem to converge—he views the landscape with the designer’s eye, creating an almost abstract image of intersecting planes of color. The work is bold and surprisingly radical in conception.