Paper

Student Artwork Guide

Setting Sail

Name Class Date

Louis Meijer, Setting Sail. Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Louis Meijer wahooart.com/en/artists/louis-meijer/
Artist’s dates
1809 – 1866

In context

Setting Sail — Louis Meijer

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1800
  2. 1810
  3. 1820
  4. 1830
  5. 1840
  6. 1850
  7. 1860

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 57 at death.

Shaded: the lifetime of Louis Meijer (1809–1866) every dated painting, decade by decade

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: wahooart.com/en/art/similar/louis-meijer-setting-sail-9DFTQV-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Rosy Brown #c3a87a

    Catalogued palette

    • #C3A87A
    • #534D42
    • #988A6E
    • #CABC9F

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Rosy Brown
    Intensity
    Vivid How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Serene How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Brilliant How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Balanced Soft How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Louis Meijer over the last twelve months — 2 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 Indonesia 50.0%100 visits
    2. 2 Singapore 50.0%100 visits

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 3 most looked-at works by Louis Meijer

    1. 1 A Mountain Landscape With Countrymen Taking A Break 50.0%100 visits
    2. 2 Strand Bij Zonsondergang 50.0%100 visits
    3. — Setting Sail this painting 0.0%0 visits

    Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 10 works by this artist, of which 2 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Louis Meijer

    Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands

    The Life and Art of Louis Meijer

    Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Louis Meijer emerged as a significant figure in the Dutch art scene during the nineteenth century. As a painter and etcher, his creative journey was deeply rooted in the rich traditions of his homeland. Meijer refined his artistic vision under the guidance of Albert van Beest, a mentorship that helped shape his technical proficiency and his ability to capture the nuances of light and atmosphere. His dedication to his craft eventually led to his recognition as a member of the prestigious Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, marking him as an artist of considerable standing within the academic circles of his time.

    The works of Meijer often transport the viewer to the rugged and evocative landscapes of the Dutch coast. He possessed a remarkable ability to render the turbulent energy of the sea and the quiet drama of maritime life. In pieces such as Flat-bottomed boat in a turbulent sea, a steamship in the background, one can sense the tension between the natural elements and the encroaching industrial age. His mastery extended beyond the grand scale of marine landscapes to more intimate, poignant scenes, including works that depict figures like a woman and her two children watching a barge being led into the sea. Through his use of watercolor, pencil, and paper, Meijer captured fleeting moments of human connection set against the vast, unpredictable backdrop of the ocean.

    Artistic Legacy and Technique

    Meijer's technical repertoire was diverse, allowing him to explore various textures and moods through different mediums. Whether working with the delicate precision of an etcher or the fluid grace of watercolor, he maintained a focus on capturing the essence of his subjects. His ability to balance portraiture with landscape allowed him to document both the human condition and the natural world with equal fervor. Notable works such as his Selbstporträt demonstrate his skill in self-representation, showcasing a level of introspection that complemented his outward-looking maritime studies.

    Though he may not be a household name in the modern era, Meijer's historical significance remains anchored in his contribution to Dutch painting. His ability to document the changing landscapes and maritime traditions of the Netherlands provides a vital window into the nineteenth century. Today, his legacy is preserved through his surviving artworks, which continue to resonate with those drawn to the atmospheric beauty and historical depth of the Dutch masters.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Setting Sail

    wahooart.com/en/art/download/louis-meijer-setting-sail-9DFTQV-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Meijer, Louis. Setting Sail. n.d., https://wahooart.com/en/art/louis-meijer-setting-sail-9DFTQV-en/
    APA
    Meijer, Louis (n.d.). Setting Sail [Painting]. https://wahooart.com/en/art/louis-meijer-setting-sail-9DFTQV-en/
    Chicago
    Louis Meijer. Setting Sail. n.d. https://wahooart.com/en/art/louis-meijer-setting-sail-9DFTQV-en/
    Harvard
    Meijer, Louis (n.d.) Setting Sail. Available at: https://wahooart.com/en/art/louis-meijer-setting-sail-9DFTQV-en/

    Look closely

    Setting Sail — Louis Meijer

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Look back at Self-Portrait, Louis Meijer, 1838 (1838), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    4. What might the artist have wanted you to feel?
    5. If you could ask the artist one question about this work, what would it be?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Questions & Answers

    Is there a slideshow for "Setting Sail" by Louis Meijer?

    The diaporama of "Setting Sail" can be watched on the artwork's Diaporama page.

    What luminance does "Setting Sail" by Louis Meijer have?

    The luminance recorded for "Setting Sail" by Louis Meijer is bright balance.

    What is the dominant color of "Setting Sail" by Louis Meijer?

    rosy brown (#c3a87a) is the leading color of "Setting Sail" by Louis Meijer.