Winter landscape on the Erft by the Düsseldorf painter Freiherr Erich von Perfall
This oil painting by Erich Freiherr von Perfall depicts a winter river landscape on the Erft River. A rare, atmospheric example of Neo-Impressionist Düsseldorf open-air painting.
With a thick application of paint, broad brushstrokes, and a palette knife technique, Perfall captures the tranquil, light-filled atmosphere typical of the French Impressionist style of painting in the Düsseldorf open-air tradition. The gentle reflections in the tranquil riverbed and the subtle play of light and shadow convey a meditative calm that immediately draws the viewer into the work. The subtle use of gray, brown, and white tones reinforces the feeling of snowy cold and atmospheric depth.
This oil on canvas painting is not only atmospherically dense but also technically sophisticated. The large format of 80×100 cm allows the artist to create an impressive and detailed depiction of the Erft landscape in winter.
The painting harmoniously combines a sense of nature, representation, and technique. It appeals to collectors and art lovers seeking emotional depth, historical value, and aesthetic clarity in a single work: a true collector's item with historical authenticity that depicts the tranquil winter landscape on the Erft River in impressive depth—ideal for lovers of emotional landscape painting with a work's history.
About the artist:
Freiherr Erich von Perfall (1882 - 1961)
Erich Freiherr von Perfall was a representative of Düsseldorf plein air painting. Born and died in Düsseldorf, he studied from 1901 under Peter Janssen, Wilhelm Schmurr, and Willy Spatz at the Düsseldorf Art Academy and under Hans Thoma at the Grand Ducal Baden Art School in Karlsruhe.
He was a student of the Niederrhein artists' group and preferred to paint river landscapes, fishing, and marshland motifs using Neo-Impressionist techniques. His works were mostly created outdoors, driven by his passion for the time of day and the seasons—here, in particular, the winter atmosphere of the Lower Rhine.
Erich Freiherr von Perfall never eluded the atmosphere of his home region: This work was probably created during his intensive walks along the Erft River, which he painted en plein air primarily in the 1920s and 1930s. Signed "EPerfall" lower right, it confirms the artist's authentic studio and field work and stylistically matches his well-known works such as "On the Erft."
