Playing in the surf

Just like his friend Jozef Israels, Blommers frequently went to the beach of Scheveningen to find inspiration. Comparing the beach scenes with children by both artists, one critic said: 'Als men Blommers tafereeltje ziet rijst de vraag op 'Van Israels?'' (see: T. de Liefde-van Brakel, B.J. Blommers (1845-1915), Katwijk, 1993, p. 39). Although they used the same subjects it is clear both artists had a totally different approach towards the subject matter. In contrast to the social-realistic approach of Israels, Blommers' pictures are more anecdotal in character. For Blommers the child represented happiness and carelessness and he was able to capture children's play in a picture. The children in the foreground of the present lot are fully consumed by the boy's boat. In the background we see other children getting dressed and in the water others are happily swimming. He himself once said about this: 'Ja, dat schilder ik graag, zulke kinderen aan zee. Ik zie ze bijna iedere dag zoo, en toch altijd weer is 't nieuw, moet ik er even bij stilstaan.' (op.cit., p. 39).