Van Meer Painting Appraisal

Tonalist Landscape Painting by Van Meer

This is an original landscape painting, likely oil or acrylic on canvas, measuring approximately 20x24 inches. The composition depicts a desolate, wintry scene featuring a narrow stream or muddy path winding through a field of tall, dried grasses under an overcast, hazy sky. Several gnarled, leafless trees are scattered throughout the mid-ground, executed with dark, thin brushstrokes that provide a stark vertical contrast to the horizontal layering of the land. The color palette is decidedly tonalist and muted, consisting primarily of cool grays, icy blues, off-whites, and earthy ochre or umber tones. The application of paint appears gestural and somewhat impasto in the foreground, particularly near the dark rocky outcrops or muddy banks, giving the work a textured, atmospheric quality reminiscent of late 19th-century Barbizon or early 20th-century American Tonalist styles. A signature 'VAN MEER' is visible in the lower right corner in block capital letters. The overall condition appears good with no immediate signs of flaking, significant cracking (craquelure), or visible restorations. The painting is shown as an unframed gallery-wrapped or slim-edged canvas, suggesting a mid-to-late 20th-century or contemporary production age, despite the traditionalist style. The craftsmanship shows a confident hand with a focus on capturing mood and light over minute topographical detail.