I had a very relaxing but also a very mentally stimulating trip to Holland and had a few aha moments.
Society wrongfully thinks itself advanced and thinks that the term "selfie" is postmodern.
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| Self Portrait by Rembrandt |
And yet Rembrandt was doing that 500 years ago.
Instagram thinks that it is the sine qua non of
still lifes and "shelfies" but once again
the Dutch were doing that 500 years ago.
These exact objects Rembrandt painted
were found in the courtyard of his home.
This is the recreation of the cabinet of curiosities that
Rembrandt kept in his home for his paintings.
It is only natural to want to document something beautiful.
"Shelfies" were also used to examine and
ponder life's bigger questions.
ponder life's bigger questions.
I had another realization when I went to Delft -
the city of Vermeer, royal churches, and porcelain.
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| Display cabinet at the Royal Delft Museum |
I went on a tour of the only remaining Delftware factory
from the golden age of porcelain production.
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| The three main stages of production |
I learned that the Dutch East India company made a large percentage of their fortune importing Ming Chinese porcelain.
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| Delft Tulip towers |
the Chinese were in a civil war that lasted about 80 years.
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| Lesser known types of Delftware |
The turmoil in China forced the craftspeople in Delft to innovate and perfect producing similar blue and white porcelain that was coming out of the ports of Guangzhou.
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| Black examples of Delftware |
I had to giggle.
I couldn't believe that Delft - one part of the holy trinity for porcelain and faience collectors - started as a counterfeit racket.
I couldn't believe that Delft - one part of the holy trinity for porcelain and faience collectors - started as a counterfeit racket.
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| Love the green Delftware! |
But imitation of goods that were coming out of Guangzhou -
the present day capitol of counterfeit goods!
the present day capitol of counterfeit goods!
Plus ca change eh?
Great insights and so so true, I love those dark brooding paintings, there's so much to see in the shadows.
ReplyDeleteWell said and I agree.
DeleteSSG xxx
I have always loved still lifes and love Dutch art for their excellence in art. Even in IG I love people's still lifes the most.
Deleteyou are a true philosopher, Naomi x
ReplyDeleteThanks for thinking my drivel is philosophical! x
DeleteIt IS!
DeletePlus ca change no kidding!
ReplyDeleteMy gosh it's all true and a bit eerie. I love that you step back and have this gift for observation that you share with us, not everyone has it and you write about it so well too. xo
You are making me blush! xx
DeleteWell said DaniBP! Every time I visit Naomi's blog I feel a bit more philosophical about the world - and usually have a giggle too as everything is written in such a witty way eg. "Shelfies" - love it!!!
DeleteAmazing about how Delfware came about....I had no clue! Amusing indeed!
Yep Delftware was just a bunch of folk copying what the Chinese did! It's such a small town and yet so much talent came from there. Can you believe I didn't even get a fridge magnet though?! Thanks Anne for your generous words x
DeleteAgree, Naomi, your observations are so interesting and thought provoking - enjoy the wit and humour too.
DeleteLove still lifes as well - also visiting artists' studios. How wonderful to see Rembrandt's with the objects from the courtyard restored to their rightful places as subjects of art.
The only studios of famous artists I've visited are Cezanne's in Aix and Brett Whiteley's in Sydney a few years ago, which really seemed to give a flavour of the artist himself, including rows or his sunglasses lined up as a "shelfie", which I think you'd like. Sadly at Giverny they don't seem to have tried to reproduce Monet's studio (the big one where he painted the water lilies is the shop!) though I do adore the house and the other interiors, particularly the kitchen, dining room and his bedroom.
Do you know of any other interesting studios in Paris or more widely in France that are open for visitors?
Such interesting history of Delft and China. In last few days have begun reading "Hanging Man - The Arrest of Ai Weiwei" by Barnaby Martin for next bookclub meeting. Fascinating and horrifying at the same time. Best wishes, Pammie
I think that's why the house of Rembrandt was one of the highlights for me. It's hard to find intact homes or partly preserved. I think Andre Derain has his home studio if you like him. I did go to da Vinci's place in the Loire valley but I was 17 and cant remember much. I am thinking of revisiting the area. I did love learning the origins of delft and indeedChinese history is just one long roller coaster ride! X
DeleteMany thanks Naomi. Will look up Derain's studio details - I do like him. Many years ago we visited the Chateau of Amboise where Leonardo lived (and I think, died - cant remember for sure). We did a tour of the chateau but they didn't take us into a studio - may not have been recreated at that time.
DeleteHave you ever been to Kettle's Yard Gallery in Cambridge? Jim Eade who gave his home and collection to the University wasn't an artist but he was a leading buyer for the Tate and got to know most of the best European artists of the 20th century. We were taken to his home by a friend who was well known to him and from then on we were welcome to re-visit and take a couple of friends, on prior arrangement of date and time. He was such an interesting man and he and his wife lived with a remarkable collection of moderns, all over the house - including the kitchen, bathrooms and loo. After he'd walked you around the house and talked about the different works and their artists he and his wife would offer tea and homemade cake or sticky buns. He'd also extended to create a combination gallery/small concert hall where the great musicians (eg Barenboim, Perlemutter etc) performed to a small audience. It was magical. Best wishes, Pammie xx
Sounds a dream! I think seeing the studio and home creates another layer I stead of a standard museum so it's a shame there's nit more. Funny bc on Pinterest there was a picture this morning of a kitchen in Delacroix's paris home that seemed it was private though...x
DeleteForgot - have been to Delacroix's home (think it was near the Place de Furstemberg - not sure of sp.), although it's not really set up as a studio. But is certainly worth a visit. There is also a funny little shop in a cupboard there where I bought a super Lacroix gold (plate) heart brooch that I love. Have also visited a few times the Picasso Museum in Antibes - there are some pictures of Picasso at work and a good collection of his wonderful ceramics - some paintings too - but what was the studio is now hanging space. The garden terrace with sculpture and views is glorious. Also an old friend has recommended the new Margaret Olley Museum in northern NSW where they've rebuilt her Sydney home/studio and set it up with the original contents that she painted so often in her beautiful still lifes. Would love to see this!
DeleteOn our next visit to Paris I'm hoping we'll get to the Cocteau Museum at Milly la Foret and also to the Musee de la Vie Romantique which I believe has a connection with Georges Sand and Chopin and where there's supposed to be a lovely little garden where they serve afternoon tea. Do you know either of these? Pammie xxx
I would love to go there!
DeleteMaybe I went to one of them when I was 17 during my gap semester in Paris bc I went hell for leather with my youthful enthusiastic for all things french which has been exhausted now...but a little garden in Paris always tends to be a delight in a different way than one in London. I was thinking on my next trip to Zpsris I would love to see the pierre Frey archives bc I haveheard they have agreat collection. When is your trip due?
We'll be in Paris for most of June - though may be popping over to London on Eurostar at some point - still thinking about that afternoon tea there! Would also love to see the Pierre Frey archives! Maybe we could go together? Pammie
DeleteIf planning coincides then definitely! But I am thinking Russia in June as its my birthday but nothing concrete. It will be either an afternoon tea or a cafe crime and pierre Frey then xx
DeleteVery true about Guangzhou! Maybe the wheels will turn on us all again on that front?!
ReplyDeleteLove the thoughts on Rembrant. I'd say that today's selfies and shelfies are less of an art form though. Composition of the shelfie may take time, but the photo and filter doesn't really render it true art. As for the selfie well it would seem that Rembrandt had a bit of a "Look at Me" moment! xx
Funny bc I love the still lifes on IG. Some are better than others of course and none will match the Dutch masters! But it is very funny that Guangzhou has always been a great port of influence in some way or another. But sad that only one pottery from Delft survived. Also another interesting point for porcelain lovers is that Indonesia ( a great outpost for the east india company ) is now a outpost for wedgewood and other potteries! x
DeleteGreat post, Naomi! Love the pictures. As for Rembrandt--he had supreme talent! He had to work for that selfie! Unlike every single Instagrammer out there (don't take offense!). I don't know about this Instagram business at all since I'm not on it. Pictures are nice, I do like a pretty picture, but at the end of the day, I need the writing more and your writing is such a treat for me to read and reminds me why I still love personal well-written blogs. Yours is one of the best my dear. XO, Jill
ReplyDeleteIG has its place and like everything there is a good and a bad version. But it must be innate to want to document and leave an imprint of some kind. Funny I find a shelfie more reflective of a person than a selfie! Thanks Jill for your kind words xx
DeleteThe selfie vs. painted self portrait..never thought about how true it is. At least we just see the faces in the paintings. The selfies we get to see it all. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteThere would have been more self portraits but paint and canvases were so expensive that most artists couldn't afford the cost nor the time involved and so it was up to Rembrandt to leave us a few!
DeleteGreat post! Sooooo looking forward to passing by Amsterdam soon! Wish I could get into the heads of those Dutch masters . . . how on earth do they process what they see onto a canvas? Definitely and stratospherically more intricate and complicated than pressing a button on a camera! :-) Emily
ReplyDeleteYou just have to go to the House of Rembrandt because it was his old house they restored ( in the middle of town so dont' worry ) and they explain the cost of pigments and the art of mixing. It was one of the highglights of my trip. They don't call them the Dutch Masters for nothing!
DeleteChinese history is so fascinating and bafflng. During certain periods they made great technological advances far ahead of the Euros and then take 6 or 8 centuries off. They were astonished when Queen Victoria's Navy ran a handful of gunships up the Yangtze and beat the Chinese Army like a rented mule...did it again 15 years later.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe Rembrandt or Vermeer ever traveled to France or Italy as most other Dutch painters then did thus never seeing the works of their only real peers. It's interesting to think what effect seeing the works of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, or Poussin would have had.
Chinese history is so crazy that it makes game of thrones look like general hospital.
DeleteThe Cultural revolution is just one of the things that still saddens me and the world lost a lot due to that. But did you know that the Chinese navy was actually so advanced that there are rumours that they sailed to Africa but they weren't interested in colonizing. It wasn't in their blue print. They went to Australia too but didn't like the look of it. But they keep doing this one step forward two steps back business. Queen Vic and her government made sure the Chinese were high on opium and they lost interest in all else. It was like one big crackhouse for awhile.
Yes Vermeer never left Holland it seems but I still find it hard to believe Rembrandt wouldn't have traveled especially when he was at his peak. But Caravaggio's work was known to be an influence on Rembrandt.
Rembrandt's painting subjects found in the trash. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteThey did a careful restoration and while they were fortifying the foundation they found objects in the courtyard that matched the painting!
DeleteThank you for this insight. I loved Asian modern history at high school but never knew about Delftware. What do they say? Fake it till you make it!!!
ReplyDeleteReminds me of everyone fawning over kale, the supposed new superfood. Heard a gardener say she asked her 80 year old neighbour about kale. The 80 year old asked:" what's that?" When she saw it, she said " that's war cabbage. We had it in the war. It grows so easily and anywhere." Den xxx
And they made it!!
DeleteAs they say everyone is kaleing themselves silly. But love that story so much - war cabbage!!! too funny Den xx
Hello Naomi,
ReplyDeleteThis was a fascinating glimpse into aspects of your visit to the Netherlands.
The portrait of Rembrandt reminds us of the Picasso painting hanging in the Ludwig Collection here in Budapest, where Picasso was lining himself up alongside the Old Masters of the past. As you say, it has been for ever thus that the 'new' or the 'modern' is, very often, a reinvention of the past. As Mark Twain wrote ' There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope. We give them a turn and they make new and curious combinations'.
But, looking at all these things of beauty, as you have done, makes one reflect and refine one's own thoughts and ideas. You have such a wonderfully creative eye, spotting the tiniest of details that the rest of us would never notice. And, yet, it is in the detail, the composition, the light, the shadow that the whole is elevated to art rather than a mere snapshot in time and space.
Funny because I was on Instagram on my trip and as I was uploading a picture I came across several still lifes as I was in the still life section in the Rijskmuseum and I had a good little chuckle.
DeleteYes I have a great respect for inventors for that very reason.!
Ha! That's a great story about Delftware. I went to Delft what seems like a million years ago and remember very little about it, except I wanted to take home every piece of Delft china that I saw. Speaking of selfies.. did you see that selfie sticks have been banned in some museums. Hooray, I say.
ReplyDeleteWell I am sure Delft has not changed except for the train station. I can't believe I didnt' get anything in Delft but there was no way I was leaving with just one thing so I couldn't choose and left empty handed. The selfie stick is getting banned in some areas in Seoul now because of the safety issue when people whip out their sticks and hit people!!
DeleteYou were lucky to see all this Dutch art and pottery on its home turf. And speaking of turf, it amazes me that those objects were found in Rembrandt's yard--historical archaeology at its best!
ReplyDeleteIronies tend to abound whenever exploring the issues of fakes. In the later dynasties of ancient Egypt, they were already faking artifacts from the earlier ones. One of my favorite examples of fakes is London's Billy-and-Charlies. When the demand arose for antiquities dredged up form the Thames, Billy and Charley began faking them. Now their output is considering so charmingly naive and collectible, that Billy and Charley are being faked in turn.
--Jim
I love that story about Billy and Charley. When it comes to objects - passions mutate into funny anecdotes!
DeleteI love going on your travels with you. It makes my life feel so mundane but I get to see so much. Keep it up!
ReplyDeletexo
Your life is hardly mundane! Mine is a bit which is why I have to get out!! xx
DeleteWell, you certainly absorbed so much on your recent trip. I love still life paintings and enjoyed seeing many at the Rijksmuseum when we visited many moons ago. Your recent posts will be remembered as "must sees" next time I have the good fortune of visiting again.
ReplyDeleteAnd, what a great philosopher you'd make - selfie and shelfie. Love it.
I had a lot of reflections indeed. It was great timing too as I was in a city that was so tolerant and has historically been so and that was a comforting feeling. You must revisist as the Rijks and the mauritshuis have been recently renovated so the buildings are as lovely as the art work!
DeleteI love those reflections! Yes indeed, we do not really come with innovations :-) I never knew that Holland was so into China...
ReplyDeleteMost of its early fortune was based on trading posts in China and Indonesia. They tried Japan but they got kicked out in the end but they were always so enterprising.
DeleteLoved this post!
ReplyDeleteThe "object" paintings have always intrigued me - as opposed to still lifes that were all about what the starving artist was going to gobble up as soon as he got to a good stopping place in the painting.
I hope the fad for selfies is winding down, I found it so disturbing that one of the doctors in the operating room with Joan Rivers was said to have taken a selfie.
People don't ask for autographs to the famous but selfies so it might be a rage for St least a century...although some IG still life's are sooo elaborate It makes me laugh.
DeleteI've never really been a fan of porcelain, it always reminds me of grandmas but what do I know but I must say I do like the Delft Tulip Towers is quite striking. "Selfie" ........you made me chuckle! Xx
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense bc I am getting older! Hehe, just you wait till you get to my age ;p x
DeleteSuch a clever and perceptive post; it's wonderful to "see" in a different way.
ReplyDeleteThank you
Sue
Thank you Sue!
DeleteGreat post as ever. I'm very fond of Rembrant. There's something very dark and introspective about him.
ReplyDeleteHe went through it all and he is one of the greats.
DeleteI've enjoyed your trip photos on Instagram. I was in Delft recently - such a lovely and charming place!! And as you point out, everything old is new again. Cheers~
ReplyDeleteYou will just go crazy for Amsterdam Loi!
DeleteThis made me giggle regarding all my angst around instagram, they didn't paint LV bags and their jewellery collections?!!
ReplyDeleteThose tulips were so expensive though! They were total show offs ;)
DeleteLove your insights Naomi x
ReplyDeleteThanks HIH x
DeleteJealous! I so love Dutch still life. Love your interpretation and it's comforting to know that perhaps there is more depth to selfies than might appear at first. When I think about it, I started doing selfies (which I'd avoided for almost a decade of blogging) after I'd been the victim of abuse and, in retrospect, it was a bit of an "I survived and I still exist" response to it all.
ReplyDeleteAnd Delft. Who knew?
Vivian Meyer was another big selfie taker. More artists would have but they couldn't afford the time nor the money for the paint and canvas whereas Rembrandt was at one time hugely successful to afford to indulge. It makes sense that a selfie is s form of acknowledgement and I think people are too harsh on some behaviour that is nothing new!
DeleteA late comment, I know, but we have a delft tulip tower very similar to the one in this post given to us when we left Amsterdam to come to America almost 22 years ago. I use every spring.
ReplyDelete