Hobbema

Hobbema is best known as the name of Meindert Hobbema, a Dutch landscape painter of the 17th century. Born in Amsterdam around 1638 and active there until his death in 1684, Hobbema is considered part of the Dutch Golden Age of painting. He is noted for detailed landscapes featuring woodlands, canals, forests, and rustic cottages. His work shows the influence of Jacob van Ruisdael, and his paintings were highly sought after in the Netherlands and beyond.

Hobbema also refers to a rural locality in central Alberta, Canada. The settlement was named after the painter Meindert Hobbema in the late 19th or early 20th century. In 2014, the municipality changed the name to Maskwacis, aligning with Indigenous language and history. Maskwacis now refers to the broader Indigenous community in the area, comprising four Cree Nations. The name change reflects efforts to recognize Indigenous heritage and reduce colonial-era place-naming.

The term Hobbema remains in historical and art-historical contexts tied to the painter, and in Canadian historical references to the former name of Maskwacis. Contemporary references typically use Maskwacis for the location, while Hobbema is used when discussing the painter or historical naming.