Nicolaas van der Waay (1855–1936)
Amsterdam Orphan Girls Going to Church
The Rhythm of Red and Black.
This is not merely a genre scene; it is a study in institutional rhythm.
Van der Waay captures the iconic Burgerweeshuis (Civic Orphanage) of Amsterdam in the late 19th century. The girls wear the city’s colors: vertically divided red and black. Red for the blood of the city, black for sorrow.
The artist, a professor at the Rijksakademie, paints silence. The heavy winter atmosphere, the synchronized movement, the discipline of the procession. It is a monumental canvas that commands the room not with noise, but with structure.
Why it matters: The art market is currently blind. While collectors chase inflated contemporary prints, museum-quality historical works are trading at the price of a mid-range watch. This canvas is over 1.3 meters wide. It represents "Old Money" aesthetics and "Granite" stability. A classic arbitrage opportunity: exchanging digital volatility for undervalued physical heritage.
Details:
Oil on canvas.
Signed ‘N.V.D WAAY’ (lower right).
85.5 x 131.5 cm (33 ½ x 51 ¾ in).
Provenance: Private collection since 1992.
Market Context:
Auction: Christie’s, London.
Sale: Old Masters to Modern Day.
Date: 3 Dec 2025.
Estimate: £18,000.