Canal Houses at Night — Amsterdam Art Print

About this artwork

A single old street lamp burns on the left of this Amsterdam night print, throwing orange light across wet cobbles and a bicycle propped against the canal railing. Beyond it, an arched brick bridge is traced with a string of warm lights, and a lone figure pauses at its crest, small against a row of stepped-gable houses. The tallest, in deep brick red, glows from every window.

The canal does most of the talking. Mist curls out from under the bridge, and the water breaks the lit facades into streaks of magenta, cyan and gold. Overhead the sky is a rich cobalt, edged by the dark leaves of a canal-side tree. The brushwork is loose and painterly, the mood quiet and a little romantic. Near the bottom, the city name is lettered in a fine italic serif, with 'Netherlands' spaced out in capitals beneath a thin rule.

Amsterdam After Dark

Amsterdam's canal ring, laid out in the 17th century and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, takes on a different character after dark. Many of its bridges are outlined with strings of small lights, most famously the Magere Brug over the Amstel, and their reflections double in the still water. Each winter the Amsterdam Light Festival places illuminated artworks along the canals, best seen from a slow evening boat. On foot, the side canals of the Jordaan are at their most atmospheric once the shops have closed.

How to style it

Hang it above a reading chair or bedside table where a lamp can echo its glow; it sits comfortably with warm woods and deep blue or green walls. It also makes a gentle partner for the London and Paris river scenes in the collection. Explore the full Cities at Night collection.