Yvonne Michiels

''Aafke'' Contemporary Dutch Portrait of a Girl, Mixed Media Painting

2023

When you look at this painting "Sprats" by Dutch artist Sasja Wagenaar (1959) from a distance you see a perfectly painted image, but up close a flowing movement of the paint streaks is visible. Sasja Wagenaar has a unique way of applying shadow and light effects in her paintings. The strong reflection on the dark background is a reference to the camera obscura. This dark room was used since the 16th century by Old Masters (such as Vermeer, as is presumed) to create a detailed reflection of an object. Sasja Wagenaar is inspired by our classic masters from the seventeenth century, a flourishing period in Dutch painting. The century in which new continents, markets and arts were discovered. At that time in the Netherlands it was a real fad to collect chinoiserie. Originally porcelain, but also Dutch pottery, also known as Delft blue, inspired by Chinese and especially by Japanese bowls and vases. To quote Sasja Wagenaar: ‘Every platter, every bowl is already so much in itself. They were made with great care through hundreds of hands before they ended up here. Their character must be respected in composing the story that forms a still life. They are as alive as the blossom branches and I try to let them speak together. Slowly the image is created’. Although rooted in the 17th century Dutch tradition, her work shows her very own signature and is contemporary. As a true Modern Dutch Master...

The pronounced technique is the first thing that strikes you when viewing the works of Jan Grotenbreg (1946). It is innovative and unique. The result of...

The pronounced technique is the first thing that strikes you when viewing the works of Jan Grotenbreg (1946). It is innovative and unique. The result of...

The pronounced technique is the first thing that strikes you when viewing the works of Jan Grotenbreg (1946). It is innovative and unique. The result of his idiosyncratic working method can be compared to Roman and Medieval murals, the so-called fresco in which people paint directly in wet lime. At the time, fresco technique was a decorative art form in Europe. However, it is not the decorative element that inspires and interests Jan, but the weathered appearance of the surviving fresco paintings. That is what he wanted to see in his own work. In 2000 he started experimenting with cement on linen. This technique is so special, because cement is a building material and does not stick to canvas. After many attempts, Grotenbreg has found a solution to this problem with modern binders. An impressive series of animal studies followed. Jan Grotenbreg only paints animals he has an affinity with. Animals such as the horse, the cow and the bull, as well as lesser-known animals such as the protected bird of prey, the black-capped vulture, the Egyptian Nile bird Ibis and the endangered house sparrow, have been laid down on linen by Grotenbreg in a layer of gray cement with acrylic paint in black-brown color nuances. The texture and composition of the applied cement is a very important part of his work. That's what makes it intriguing. The way in which the cement is applied determines the decisiveness of the work even more than the image. The animals, especially the sparrows, sometimes only cover a very small part of the canvas. It is clear that the emphasis is on technology. The charm of Jan Grotenbreg's work lies in the imitation of that weathering. But the animals portrayed also play a role in this and are not exempt from rendered weariness. They give a beautiful antique impression...

"Navajita" (2018) is a mixed media painting on canvas by Inés Silvalde, measuring 20 x 25 x 3.5 cm. This work, part of the Influencers de Taberna series, captures a surreal yet intim...

“Never taking anything for granted, I am so grateful to be able to paint every day.” Anne Harney is a representational painter beginning her work from observation and concluding wit...

"Two Rams on Blue" is a framed oil and acrylic work on canvas by Joshua Brown, depicting two heads of Rambouillet sheep in profile. This playful painting features painterly brushstro...

"Birds on Jungle" is a framed oil and acrylic work on canvas by Joshua Brown, depicting 13 birds on thin branches. The paint splattered background emulate...