Last week my roommate from college came for a visit from Germany so we decided to head into Amsterdam to see the Rijks Museum. I had been there a couple times before but I was eager to see the beautiful paintings again.
I have a particular interest in the Golden Age of the Netherlands, the 1600s, so I really enjoy the exhibits on the first floor when you first enter. On display are items from their colonial days when the Dutch had settlements in places like Indonesia, Bangladesh and Brazil.
Upstairs you get to the paintings from the 1600s. The still life by Balthasar van der Ast always amazes me. The stippling on the apple is so fine, I am humbled.
While growing up, whenever I was in a museum with my Mom, she would get really excited when she saw a Frans Hals painting. I’ve never heard the story behind how she became a fan but now that I’ve spent time in Holland, I can understand what caught her eye. Hals is considered one of the foremost portrait painters of the period. He was known for having a much more loose style than was customary and some of his late works even look a bit impressionistic. I have visited the Frans Hals museum in Haarlem. It was quite a treat.
One of my favorite paintings in the Rijks is the Wedding Portrait by Frans Hals. It was distictive at the time since the couple is relaxing together in a fete champetre type scene and they are actually smiling. This compared to the dour portraits of the day must have really caused a stir. There are many items around them symbolizing fidelity and fertility like a vine, a thistle flower and a fountain.
Johannes Verspronck was a contemporary of Hals but had a much more rigid style. His smooth details are very fine and the lace collars are extraordinarily done.
I’m also a Vermeer fan and have a personal mission to see all 34 of his known works. The Rijks owns four but three were on display this time. “View of a House in Delft” or “The Little Street;” “The Kitchen Maid or “The Milk Maid;” and “Woman Reading a Letter.” I believe it was “The Love Letter” that wasn’t on display. No, “Girl with a Pearl Earring” is not at the Rijks. It is at Mauritshuis in Den Hague along with the stunning, “View of Delft.“ It was with an intake of breath that I first saw this large painting of the rooftops of Delft. Of course Vermeer is known for his useage of light. Typically a stream of light comes through a window, illuminating a lovely young woman in his paintings. However, in this scene, it is the sky that glows with the most perfect blue. The texture of the ocre rooftops really stands out. I learned that Vermeer had mixted sand with his paint to get this effect. This is one of those paintings you have to see in person to really appreciate. The “Girl with a Pearl Earring” is in the same room. It is not very large but it is so striking. I’m a fan of the same titled book and movie featuring Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson.
My favorite painting at the Rijks is “The Jewish Bride” by Rembrandt. The texture of this painting has so much depth. It appears quite different from his other paintings to me. I would like to try my hand at mimicking the brusque brush strokes since it is so differrent from my own style. I love the balance of the rich orangy reds and the glowing gold.
It is wonderful to find inspiration in the masters. I look forward to my next visit with these old friends.
