Boats along the river The Meuse near Dinant. (Belgium) oil on canvas

by Galerie Ringoot

In this atmospheric oil painting, Pieter Ringoot (1921–2011) depicts a tranquil view of the Meuse near Dinant. A few boats are moored along the bank, whilst the water gently reflects the surrounding landscape. The red boat in the foreground immediately catches the eye and draws the viewer further into the painting, towards the houses on the opposite bank and the green hills beyond.

In this region, the Meuse winds its way through an impressive landscape of steep rock faces, forests, villages and historic sites. Dinant, situated in the Belgian province of Namur, is best known for its riverside location, the citadel towering above the town and the characteristic row of houses along the river. The surroundings possess an almost picturesque naturalness: water, boats, rocks and greenery form a single whole.

Pieter Ringoot painted this work around 1980 in oil on canvas. As is often the case in his landscapes, he does not opt for a busy or spectacular moment, but for the tranquillity of a familiar place. The composition exudes tranquillity, a holiday atmosphere and the urge to look closely. The work fits beautifully within his series of landscapes, in which Belgian villages, rivers and hills are captured with a keen sense of atmosphere and light.