Amsterdam: Van Gaugh Museum: Rijksmusuem

 I have spent an uncommonly large proportion of my married life sitting on steps outside of art museums.  I, in fact, consider myself quite an expert on museum steps.  I think the all time best art museum steps must be those outside The Chicago Art Museum, watching the circus on Michigan Avenue from those steps is hard to beat.  Sandy has a much higher tolerance level for the amount of culture that she can absorb in one dose than do I.  It is through this inconsistency in our marriage that I have had the opportunity to develop my museum steps expertise.  I report today, that the the steps in the atrium of the Rijkesmuseum are on the A-List.  

Rijksmuseum Steps

First thing this morning, after another Dutch Pancake, we took tram no. 2 to the Musuemplein, a park surrounded by a number of museums paramount amongst them the Van Gogh (van gah-ch) museum and the Rijksmuseum (rhymes with Bikes-museum).  Sandy truly appreciates Vincent Van Gogh's paintings.  She understands his emotions and sees them in his brush strokes on canvas.  This museum was also eyeopening to me as my understanding of Van Gogh was almost completely formed by the Kirk Douglas film, Lust for Life.  I learned that myths that he was a self taught genius whose master works were a result of his insanity are false.  His genius was not because of that insanity but in spite of it.  

VGs etching book and some of his drawing tools.  Until the end he often sketched his subject before committing it to oil paint.

This is my epiphany Van Gogh.  An entire painting using only different shades of yellow.  This painting along with some of his writings to his brother Theo, has allowed me to understand his art more than before visiting the museum.

His house in Arles.  Some of his most accomplished work came while he lived here.  He was hoping to start an artist colony here and it is where Gauguin came to stay with him, and where the famous ear incident occurred.

The Potato Eaters, some of VGs artist friends did not like this.  His biggest fan, Sandy, likes it a lot.

One of his many self portraits.

His Sunflower Painting, one here, one in Munich and one in Paris

Inside the museum

Holland's Golden Age radiates from the Rijksmuseum.  Here Rembrandt and Vermeer strut their stuff.  The Netherlands was at the peak of its power.  Now independent from Spain and with world wide trade flourishing, the Dutch were awash in spendable cash.  Artists who were painting for nobility and church hierarchy in other countries had to find different patrons in Holland.  And, they found them in the businessmen who founded the Dutch Republic.  

Rijksmuseum

Sandy relaxing in the garden outside the Rijksmuseum

A model of one of the ships that indirectly sponsored the Dutch Masters

Banquet of the Crossbowmen's Guild in Celebration of the Treaty of Münster (Dutch Independence)

The Merry Company by Isack Elyas

The figures around table allude to the five senses.  The woman with the dog represents smell.  The man with a piece of paper is sight.  The singing couple are touch.  The man with the wine is taste.  The lute player is hearing.  

The Night Watchmen by Rembrandt, depicting the citizen soldiers preparing to defend Amsterdam 

The Syndics of the Drapers' Guild...I used to keep my crayons in a cigar box with these guys on it.

The Milkmaid by Vermeer

After all this culture I needed a beer and Sandy joined me.

Sunset over Amsterdam