Willem Roelofs (Netherlands, Holland, 1822 - 1897) Oil on canvas painting of figures rowing in a pond with windmills and cattle grazing in the distance. Signed lower left. Sight size: 14 x 21.5. Overall size: 21 x 29 inches. Roelofs is considered to be a forerunner of the Hague school, a group of landscape painters who concentrated on the atmosphere and play of light in nature. Roelofs proved to be an important influence, training, among others, Hendrik Willem Mesdag, who would develop into one of the masters of The Hague school. It was also Roelofs who encouraged Vincent Van Gogh to become a painter and to attend the Royal Academy of Art.