Museums
Rijksmuseum: Rembrandt and the Dutch Masters
Van Gogh Museum: Vincent’s Life and Work
Citywalks
Amsterdam Highlights
Rijksmuseum: Rembrandt and the Dutch Masters
A must-see: the masterpieces of Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals and Steen. The Rijksmuseum boasts one of the largest collections of the Dutch Masters. In the 17th century, hundreds of painters introduced new subjects and techniques into the history of art. Neither aristocracy nor the church, but a broad, affluent middleclass and elite of rich merchants determined totally new marketconditions for painting.
Dutch painting focused on ordinary life, but also tells us about economy, religion, science, liberated women, children, tulips, and…naughty behaviour. The Kitchenmaid, the Nightwatch, winter landscapes and realistic portraits were the result. In the context of the most sophisticated society of the 17th century I’ll challenge you to enjoy with me the ins-and-outs of these masterpieces and the society which produced these.
Van Gogh Museum: Vincent – Life & Work
Vincent van Gogh was a formidable Dutch (and French) painter. The Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam is unique: over 200 paintings by Van Gogh are exhibited in full glory. Impressive selfportraits, sunlit landscapes, flamboyant flowers and colorful orchards, but also dark images of extremely poor people. The Bedroom in the Yellow House in Arles, the Potatoe Eaters, Sunflowers, Wheatfield with Crows.
In his lifetime Vincent sold only one painting. But Vincent left an impressive legacy appealing to everybody. He opened doors for artists involved in all modern movements of the 20th century: Expressionism, Fauvism, Cubism.
Vincent described his deepest inner life in his letters to his beloved brother Theo. A lonely childhood and the search for a meaningful life inspired Van Gogh to follow his evocation: creating a personal treasure of hundreds of unique works in the midst of poverty. A short, but intense life that eventually became unbearable and violently came to an end.
Young and old are moved by this artist as no other modern painter can do.