Peg Kerr's Reading Page

Goden Dag,

I don't know if the Dutch do apero. I certainly do, and I see plenty of places offering Aperol Spritz, but I'm having olives, almonds, and sauvignon blanc, none of which is exactly Dutch. But I am old, and I get legitimately tired. For example I got a lot of sleep last night the result of walking more than 13K steps yesterday. I did not walk that many today, but it was more than 10K. I've earned my snack and drink. And I made it back in time to enjoy the Tour stage.

So who are these "failed" painters? They are world renowned today, and any work of theirs that comes on the market sells for tens of millions of dollars. But in their lifetimes, they found little success and recognition, nevertheless, they are the two most famous of Dutch artists: Rembrandt van Rijn and Vincent Van Gogh. Both of them developed distinct styles that appeal to u but were too far from contemporary conventions to please the public.

I booked entrance times and got tickets using my museum card, and consulted the map so I could get from one to the next.  I showed up just a little late to the Van Gogh museum and realized I'd left my museum card behind, so I had to pay for my ticket. 

I'd been to the Van Gogh Museum before, and I remember loving it. Of course, institutions evolve, and the museum is now more dedicated to putting Van Gogh's work in Art Historical context and exhibiting artists who were influences or friends of his. There's an impressive exhibit of the works of Paul Gauguin, for example. But I was here to see Vincent, and I missed the discussion of his symbolism and use of color to express emotions.  I did see some paintings I had not seen before. Here's one I really liked.

Don't get me wrong. The museum is definitely worth a visit and the paintings are well displayed, and there's some touching information about Vincent's brother Theo and his devoted wife. Let's give Theo Van Gogh credit. I don't think we would have had Vincent without him.

I had enough time to go home and fetch my museum card before setting out to Rembrandt's House.  I have visited it before, but I did not remember the neighborhood. It was quite a stroll crossing many bridges over canals.

Rembrandt's House Museum is truth in advertising. This is the actual house that Rembrandt and his bride Saskia bought., complete with narrow, steep, and twisting staircases.  As long as Saskia lived Rembrandt's career prospered, when she died following the birth of their son, things began to decline. He spent too much and sold too few paintings. This was the Golden Age of the Dutch Republic, but popular taste passed him by. 
 

See the small bed? He worked here sometimes and slept sitting up. The Dutch used to believe that lying down was dangerous. 

This is the studio where he taught some pupils.

 The irony, as the museum, points out, is that we owe the recreation of Rembrandt's house to his bankruptcy and forced sale of his belongings. They were catalogued and could be recovered. His only surviving child, Cornelia, ended up in the Dutch colony in South Africa. He may have descendants.

Tot Ziens