Johan Jongkind

Johan Barthold Jongkind (1819–1891) was a Dutch painter and printmaker, best known for his atmospheric landscapes and urban scenes, particularly of Paris and the French countryside. Born in the Netherlands, Jongkind trained at The Hague before moving to France, where he became closely associated with the French art scene. Although he is often considered a precursor to the Impressionist movement, Jongkind remained a unique figure, blending Dutch landscape traditions with modern French techniques.

Despite his critical influence on later artists, Jongkind struggled with financial instability and periods of depression throughout his life. He spent much of his career in France and maintained close ties with the Barbizon School, a group of landscape painters who valued naturalism and outdoor painting. Jongkind’s legacy is firmly rooted in his pioneering use of light and his ability to capture the transient beauty of nature and cityscapes, earning him recognition as a forerunner of modern landscape painting.