House along a farm road - oil on canvas. by Galerie Ringoot

In “House along a Country Lane”, Pieter Ringoot (1921–2011) paints a tranquil rural scene, presumably during a stay on the Greek island of Rhodes.

The work depicts a narrow, warm sandy lane running past trees, bushes and white houses with red roofs. The composition naturally draws the eye into the depth, towards the landscape behind the houses. The sturdy olive tree in the foreground gives the painting character and provides a lovely contrast to the open road and the light sky.

Pieter Ringoot worked here with oil on canvas and used a subdued, earthy colour palette: warm ochres, deep greens, soft blues and the striking red of the roofs. This creates a Mediterranean atmosphere without the image becoming overly sunny or touristy. Above all, it remains a personal and observant landscape, seen through the eyes of an artist who always kept looking whilst on the move.

Pieter was not particularly fond of long-distance travel abroad, but whenever he set off, he never left without his sketchbook and painting supplies. That makes this work all the more special: it is not only a landscape from Greece, but also a tangible reminder of his way of seeing and working. As the artist’s grandson, I recognise that habit all too well: I, too, rarely set off without something to draw with.