ticketsMember | Make a donation

Mother and Child by the Sea

1830
Not on view
Writing to the first owner of this painting, Dahl identified the figures on the shore as the wife and child of a fisherman on the approaching boat. While the picture enjoys a rapport with themes explored by his fellow artist and neighbor, Friedrich, its subject may have held deeply personal resonance for Dahl: his father was a fisherman, and two of his own children died in the year prior to the completion of this work.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Mother and Child by the Sea
  • Artist: Johan Christian Dahl (Norwegian, Bergen 1788–1857 Dresden)
  • Date: 1830
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 6 1/4 x 8 1/8 in. (15.9 x 20.6 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Gift of Eugene V. Thaw, 2007
  • Object Number: 2007.164.2
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Denkmale einer sehr ausgebildeten Holzbaukunst aus den frühesten Jahrhunderten in den innern Landschaften Norwegens
Johan Christian Dahl
1837
The River Elbe in Moonlight, Johan Christian Dahl Norwegian, Brush and gray wash, heightened with white bodycolour, over graphite and black chalk
The River Elbe in Moonlight
Johan Christian Dahl
1833
The Aller Church in Sønderjyllands Amt (Denmark), seen from the North, Johan Christian Dahl Norwegian, Graphite, brush and brown wash; framing lines in graphite, probably by the artist
The Aller Church in Sønderjyllands Amt (Denmark), seen from the North
Johan Christian Dahl
late 18th–19th century
View of Frederiksborg Castle from the Northeast, Johan Christian Dahl Norwegian, Pen and black ink, brush and gray wash, over a sketch in graphite
View of Frederiksborg Castle from the Northeast
Johan Christian Dahl
1817
Peasant's Hut at the Edge of a Forest, Johan Christian Dahl Norwegian, Etching; second state of two
Peasant's Hut at the Edge of a Forest
Johan Christian Dahl
1828

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.