Elegant figures strolling on a sunny day in the Spuistraat, The Hague

Floris Arntzenius' paintings reflect the sophisticated atmosphere of The Hague around the turn of the century. He gave preference to modest sized compositions, emphasizing the intimate character of streets such as the Spui- or the Wagenstraat, with figures hurrying over the streets past illuminated shop windows and colourful sign-boards. He loved to work outside in the streets en plein air and to make sketches and studies of various crowded streets in The Hague - which earned him the nickname of: 'Straatjesschilder'. The present lot, a view of the Spuistraat on a sunny day, is a striking example of a street in The Hague, where Arntzenius was known for. Arntzenius captures the light and atmosphere of a sunlit day with a variety of elegantly dressed figures and the dynamic representation of the buildings, all instrumental in creating a beautifully balanced composition.