Steemfest extras; where my favorite paintings live – a short art guide by @mariandavp

If you are taking a few days extra in the Netherlands alongside Steemfest, as a member of the Steemit art community I would like to introduce you to my favorite paintings residing in the magic world of Dutch art scene. I will skip mainstream tips like visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam or Mauritshuis in Den Haag… apart from the fact that you would do this anyway, ticking a box isn’t really money well spent.

To me looking at the following paintings, masterpieces of the Dutch Golden Age and their contemporaries, is one of the most intense experiences. Like falling in love and falling apart at the same time. Too humbling to be inspiring, in fact I am ashamed to ever hold a brush after each visit, but so enlightening and so vivid; a time capsule in time and spirit.

Here they are, a few paintings I would sell my soul to be able to have in my living room, all of them nearby the Steemfest!

Peter Paul Rubens - Old Woman and Boy with Candles

Rubens made this painting around 1616. The influence of Caravaggio is quite clear, but I am a big big fan of Caravaggio and the whole light / shadow game and vivid naturalism. When I first saw this painting I was breath taken. Look at her eye, the light and emotion in it. If I had made this painting I would never be able to sell it. Guess what; Rubens didn’t either!

Rembrandt van Rijn - The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp

That’s a creepy masterpiece by the famous Rembrandt. Of course his portraits are easily digested but this painting when you see it from a close distance is taking you back in time. Fantastic expressions, life and death put forth in a cruel manner but I love it because the spirit of the artist prevails.

Johannes Vermeer - Girl with a Pearl Earring

Vermeer’s most famous painting. There are many myths around this painting… you will hear that this was an imaginary subject, not a real person. Others say it was his maid. No matter who this girl is, it has captivated the hearts of all art lovers around the globe for centuries. It is also said that this masterpiece was sold for bread. We will never find out. We can only allow ourselves to get lost in those eyes and beautiful lips, in the contrast of light as it touches her face.

If you are in the mood for a movie, this will take you back to the golden era, the life of Vermeer and the Girl with the Pearl Earring.

Vincent Van Gogh – All of them?

Apart from a couple of his greatest paintings that are in MoMa, NY, in the Van Gogh Museum you can step into Van Gogh’s genius as a whole. I have to admit that I wasn’t always a big fan of Vincent. There was a time when I thought he was overrated. Until a friend gave me for my birthday a book containing his complete collection of works and letters he exchanged with his brother throughout his short life. Reading through them my whole perception of his work changed.

I will not list a painting. I suggest this wonderful animation of his most wonderful artworks, that brings them into life and I believe does justice to his work. Also the music is by Ludovico Einaudi, which creates a whole new “Experience” from Vincent’s art.

Did I tell you how much I love the Netherlands?