''Ducks By A Pond'' by Constant David Ludovic Artz (Dutch, 1870-1951). Signed lower right.Fascinated by nature from a young age, Constant Ludovic Artz made his name as a painter of idyllic scenes of ducks and waterfowl, scenes which were of great interest among the public in the nineteenth-century as an antidote to ever increasing urbanisation and industrial onslaught.Artz was a master at depicting his subjects with a smooth, impressionistic touch. His paintings, often quite small, stand out because of their friendly appearance and retain their popularity to this day. His work can be found in both collections of many Dutch museums and in private collections worldwide.This Artz painting depicts a white duck and five yellow ducklings on a pond bank dappled with sunshine. The work has craquelure throughout but the paint remains stable. The whole work has a matt appearance, likely an issue with the varnish or absence thereof, however the painting nonetheless draws the eye when ...