Roos van der Meijden

“The interplay of light and shadow, the quality of light at a specific time of day—capturing the impression of a fleeting moment through color and brushstrokes remains an endless challenge.”

Roos van der Meijden (b. 1979) is a realist painter whose work bears classical hallmarks. Yet, a closer look reveals the influence of modern times and materials. Using oil and acrylic paints, she builds upon the principles of Old Dutch painting, blending them with her own unique insights and color palette. Whether depicting scenes from Paris, The Hague, Milan, or Dutch cityscapes, the places she paints all exude a distinctly contemporary, recognizable atmosphere. 

Her cityscapes and interiors capture fleeting moments of everyday life—moments that often slip by unnoticed in our hurried existence, without us sparing a second to appreciate their beauty. Through her paintings, Roos van der Meijden seeks to pause time, revealing beautiful moments we might otherwise miss and allowing us to savor them endlessly. By studying her work, you may find yourself viewing the world around you in a new light. While the subjects and situations in Roos van der Meijden’s paintings vary, themes such as time, the contrast between light and shadow, and reflections recur throughout her work. Crucially, her paintings are not exact copies of reality; reality serves as the starting point for the painting, not the ultimate goal.

“Even during my training, I became fascinated by how the surroundings are reflected in water and how the movement of waves scatters the light. Over the years, I have explored various subjects, but reflections remain a constant source of inspiration.” Roos van der Meijden graduated from the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague in 2001, specializing in printmaking. At that time, she primarily created color etchings, for which she won the Allianz Printmaking Prize in 2001. She switched to painting in 2008. This move was recognized in 2011 when she was awarded the honorary title of "Talent of the Year" in the "Artist of the Year" competition. Since then, she has consistently ranked among the top 25 most popular artists in this competition.