Antoinette van Hoytema - Barbara Hofje, Haarlem

Antoinette van Hoytema (1875–1967)

Barbara Hofje, Haarlem

1904

Pencil, charcoal, and watercolor on paper

32 × 24 cm

Presented in a passe-partout

Provenance:

Private collection Hasselt, the Netherlands.

Condition:

Very good condition.

Additional information:

This early drawing by Antoinette van Hoytema depicts the Barbara Hofje in Haarlem, an intimate and characteristic part of the city that she captured with a keen eye for detail and atmosphere. Behind a wooden fence, we see a simple almshouse with a thatched roof, surrounded by lush greenery. The sheltered, almost hidden position of the house, partly shaded by a large tree, contributes to the quiet and restrained atmosphere of the scene.

The Barbara Hofje, located on Jansstraat in Haarlem, was originally established as St. Barbara Gasthuis, a hospital for the sick and elderly. It was later converted into an almshouse. Today, only a former gateway remains of this historic complex.

The scene is intimate and nostalgic, emphasizing the everyday beauty of the thatched roof, shutters, and weathered walls, framed by a tree that partly shades the building. The fence in the foreground suggests a division between private and public space, while the vegetation surrounding the house evokes a sense of harmony with nature.

The drawing conveys a sense of quiet rural simplicity and highlights Van Hoytema’s affinity for depicting local and recognizable subjects. Her delicate use of color combined with subtle linework demonstrates her ability to balance realism and atmosphere.

Drawings by Antoinette van Hoytema are now held in collections including that of the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo.