Pulchri Studio (Latin:"For the study of beauty") is a Dutch art society, art institution and art studio based in The Hague ('s-Gravenhage), Netherlands.[1]
This institute began in 1847 at the home of painter Lambertus Hardenberg. Since 1893 the club has its residence in the villa at Lange Voorhout in The Hague. Membership is made up of painters, sculptors, photographers and art lovers, with members selected by a committee.
An artist's membership allows them to exhibit their own works in the galleries of the Company. Guests have to be invited by members.
Origins
Paul Gabriël: Windmill in a pond.
The unspoilt countryside around even the rich coastal town of The Hague[2] with its rural environment and the unspoiled landscape and nature and the nearby fishing village of Scheveningen attracted many young artists.[3] The artists wanted to be far away from the state-run requirements of art (neo-classicism) and liked to decide their own way. The model was the successful artist colony of Barbizon south of Paris in the forest of Fontainebleau. The unaltered life of the people and the unspoilt polders and the North Sea coast played an important role. They wanted to be far away from the beginning in the Netherlands industrialisation in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
History
Diligentia.Exhibition with a view to the entrance.
Following the abolition of the patronage for artist they were searching for a new way. The city of 's-Gravenhage (The Hague) with its surroundings and the coastal landscape of the North Sea at Scheveningen became attractive for young painters. In 1847 with the establishment of the association Pulchri Studio such a new approach has been emerged. These artist's association is a typical Dutch development.[4] It stands in the continuation of the tradition of the old academies of the 17th and 18th centuries.[5][6][7] A special role has played gatherings, which were called art considerations (Kunstbeschouwingen). They offered the artists the opportunity to present their own works the other members and to exchange information with the other painters. This way of handling the works creators as an Apprentice with other artists as Master has been the guarantee of the success of the Hague School.[8] The location served as a studio and workshop. Right at the beginning this cooperative had no exhibition rooms. Alternatively the painters participated in the two or three-yearly Exhibition of Living Masters.[9][10] – In 1882, Vincent van Gogh participated in such an art appreciation along with Bosboom and Henkes. The location had the function of the social contact to the native population. It wasn't only a place of social encounter, but at the same time it offered to the artists the opportunity to communicate with collectors and dealers. – This was very important.
Many painters, who are today attributed to the Hague School, had position on the board and made this cooperative to a stronghold: Bosboom was chairman from 1852 to 1853, Israëls from 1875 to 1878, and Mesdag from 1898 to 1907. But even Jacob Maris and Willem Maris, Anton Mauve, Roelofs and Jan Weissenbruch were members of the executive committee. They were responsible for the drawing room, the art considerations or the social meetings.
The growing membership forced the organizers to expand and in 1901 it was moved to the building on the Lange Voorhout 15.
In 2004, a number of works from Pulchri were stolen, later recovered in 2007.[12]
The two rival cooperatives
Théophile de Bock (1895/1905): A town on the river Vecht – private collection.
During its turbulent history there were attempts at secession and forming counter companies. None of them would ever attain the importance of Pulchri Studio. But this is an indication that the politics of these cooperatives is not always met with broad approval. One of these countermovements is the Haagse Kunstkring. In 1891 this cooperative was created by the painter Théophile de Bock and the architect Paul du Rieu. Loosely translated, [13] It has remained until now and for its centenary was awarded with the medal of the city of The Hague.
In 1884 a smaller Artists' Association – Arti et Industriae was established in The Hague, in order to promote Dutch art craft. It has a pension fund, too. From the beginning it was inclined towards the subject of industry and industrial progress; it has a completely different orientation than the Hague School with her Pulchri Studio, which wanted to immortalize the untouched nature and the genuine life in the country, the podern and on the coast. – Thus it would never attain the significance and charisma of the Pulchri Studio. Arti et Industriae had set the goal of contact and coordination. They organize exhibitions, too. However, their existence was ensured by the proximity to the seat of government.
Pulchri Studio and the Art Academy
From the Hague School and the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague had a favorable effect on the development of the artists' association Pulchri Studio. This society assumed the function of the promotion of the fine arts. There were excellent teachers and students in this environment.[14] Willem Maris, Johan Hendrik Weissenbruch and Georg Breitner were also trained at the Art Academy Blosboom,.
Pulchri Studio and the Hollandsche Teekenmaatschappij
The cooperative of Pulchri Studio was open to new technics in painting in the fine art. This resulted in the panel painting to another movement within the Dutch Impressionism, the Hague School.
In Brussels in the year 1855 the Society for watercolour-painting, the "Société Belge des watercolorist" was founded.[15][16] She was quite successful. This movement was an expression of social and country-specific implementation of the very successful work of The Royal Watercolour Society to London. Precisely because of the contacts with the environment of the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, the watercolours were attractive again as a version of the painting for artists. Indeed, this watercolour technique had reached their third heyday from the end of the 19th century to the early 20th century.[17][18]
On 31 January 1878 the Hollandsche Teekenmaatschappij (in English: Dutch Drawing Society) was founded. Its founding members belonged to the core of the Hague School – the movement of the Dutch Impressionism and thus the Pulchri Studio. The society was so organized that it was independent, but closely linked to Pulchri Studio remained. Its honorary members included painters from Belgium, Germany and Italy.
In 1901, this society ceased to exist.
Policy and Pulchri Studio
The Society Pulchri wasn't as conservative as Arti et Amicitiae to Amsterdam. Yes, they even rejected the traditional painting styles.
In the royal capital of 's-Gravenhage (The Hague) his caused an uproar and a political issue, too. By the king Willem III Hermanus Koekkoek had received a medal in recognition of a work. From Pulchri came the objection that this painting would no longer correspond to the current state of the art.[19] – In public, the Hague School took the opposite position and stood against the official art policy of the Dutch king. This was notably represented by Artzt, de Bock, Bosboom, Israëls, Jacob and Willem Maris, Mauve, Mesdag and Neuhuys.
In addition they made known that neither one may send them a tender for an art competition nor they will take part in a competition any more.[20][21]
In the circles that represented the new, radical painting style of impressionism or were only open, it was believed to have triggered something. In those days the queen tried to calm things down by their commitment to Pulchi. There was a no significant change in the policy of the king. – The disappointment was very big and they had to choose their own way.[22]
Notable members: 19th century
Louis Apol: Winter landscape with sunset between trees (Rijksmuseum).Johannes Joseph Destree: Beach of Scheveningen (1871)Taco Mesdag: Molentje Leende (1880)
Bernard Blommers (undated): Seaside, Saint Louis Museum, USA.
Johannes Josephus Destrée (1873): On the seaside at sunset, private collection.
Paul Gabriël (undated): Polder landscape, Gemeentemuseum, The Hague.
Arnold Marc Gorter (1905): November mood, Teylers Museum, Haarlem.
Bartholomeus Johannes van Hove (1825/50): View on Scheveningen, The Hague Historic Museum.
Jacob Maris (1885): Bluff-bowed Fishing boat on the beach at Scheveningen, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
Willem Maris (after 1880): Duck with their ducklings at the shore of the pond, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
Anton Mauve (undated): The Corn Harvest, Gemeentemuseum, The Hague.
Hendrik Willem Mesdag (1875): Return from fishing, Visserijmuseum.
Sina Mesdag van Houten (1905): Bleak Pastoral Scene, Water-Colour Serie as part of the Series of the Dutch School.
Willem Roelofs (1870): Polder landscape with windmill near Abcoude, Geementemuseum, The Hague.
Julius van de Sande Bakhuyzen (1870): The Hospital at 's-Gravenhage (The Hague), Teylers Museum.
Andreas Schelfhout (1869): Winterlandscape with two windmills, private collection.
Jan Weissenbruch (1850): The fishmarket at Woudrichem, private collection.
Jan Hendrik Weissenbruch (after 1870): Autumn landscape, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
Jan Hillebrand Wijsmuller (undated): A winter landscape with houses along a canal, private collection.
Revival after the war
After the Second World War was Pulchri Studio in disrepute: In 1943, the executive committee had submitted the order from Berlin to join the Reich-Chamber of Culture (Reichskulturkammer). In the Kingdom of the Netherlands this act was regarded as an act of collaboration. – After 1945 the chairman at that time, Willy Sluiter, was dismissed. In 1996 Queen Beatrix just took the patronage of this artists association and helped her back to the traditional reputation and importance in the art scene of The Hague and the Netherlands.
George Hendrik Breitner was a Dutch painter and photographer. An important figure in Amsterdam Impressionism, he is noted especially for his paintings of street scenes and harbours in a realistic style. He painted en plein air, and became interested in photography as a means of documenting street life and atmospheric effects – rainy weather in particular – as reference materials for his paintings.
Oosterbeek is a village in the eastern part of Netherlands. It is located in the municipality of Renkum in the province of Gelderland, about 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Arnhem.
Hendrik Willem Mesdag was a Dutch marine painter.
The Hague School is a group of artists who lived and worked in The Hague between 1860 and 1890. Their work was heavily influenced by the realist painters of the French Barbizon school. The painters of the Hague school generally made use of relatively somber colors, which is why the Hague School is sometimes called the Gray School.
Amsterdam Impressionism was an art movement in late 19th-century Holland. It is associated especially with George Hendrik Breitner and is also known as the School of Allebé.
Willem Roelofs was a Dutch painter, water-colourist, etcher, lithographer and draughtsman. Roelofs was one of the forerunners of the Dutch Revival art, after the Romantic Classicism of the beginning of the 19th century, which led to the formation of The Hague school. His landscapes, especially the early ones with their dominating cloudy skies, demure bodies of water and populated with cattle, are typical for the School of Barbizon.
Jan Hendrik Weissenbruch, also known as Hendrik Johannes Weissenbruch was a Dutch painter of the Hague School. He is noted especially for his watercolours.
Théophile Emile Achille de Bock was a Dutch painter belonging to the Hague School. Although many denigrate De Bock's work as too gray and too sketchy, Hague School champions love his work. Even Van Gogh was convinced of De Bocks "artistic temperament", although he eventually found his choice of subject too limited and tried to get De Bock to paint figure studies. But De Bock stuck to the subject he was good at, the Dutch landscapes.
Pieter Florentius Nicolaas Jacobus Arntzenius was a Dutch painter, water-colourist, illustrator and printmaker. He is considered a representative of the younger generation of the Hague School.
Andreas Schelfhout (1787–1870) was a Dutch painter, etcher and lithographer, known for his landscape paintings.
Johannes Bosboom was a Dutch painter and watercolorist of the Hague School, known especially for his paintings of church interiors.
Bartholomeus Johannes van Hove was a Dutch painter and the father of Hubertus van Hove. He played an important role in the development of 19th-century painting by his many disciples. He was able to teach his skills to a large group of artists, of whom especially Johannes Bosboom and Jan Hendrik Weissenbruch would rise to great heights.
Johannes Evert Hendrik Akkeringa was part of the second generation of the Hague School painters. Akkeringa is primarily known for his paintings and watercolours of women and playing children at the beach, women mending nets and intimate tea-time conversations.
The Hollandsche Teekenmaatschappij was an international art society founded in 1876 in The Hague. The purpose of the society was to promote watercolor painting as an art in itself, which until then had been known only as a sketching technique.
The Tweede Schilderijenzaal, or Painting Gallery II, is one of two art gallery rooms in Teylers Museum. The Tweede Schilderijenzaal was built in 1893 as an extension of the first gallery.
Maria Philippina (Marie) Bilders-van Bosse was a painter, famous for her landscape paintings in an early Dutch-impressionist style.
Jan Hillebrand Wijsmuller was a Dutch painter. He belongs to The 2. Golden Age of Dutch Painting.
Willink van Collenprijs is a former Dutch art award, which was awarded for the first time in 1880 by the Sociëteit Arti et Amicitiae. It was intended as an encouragement award for young artists, and was considered as a national counterpart to the Paris Salon. Its existence of more than 71 years proves the success of Amsterdam's art policy. For many of its winners, it was a valuable boost to their careers in the Dutch art world. Some of the prize winners were also recognized abroad and remain well known today.
The Laren School is the name of an art colony located in the Dutch village, Laren, in the Gooi near Hilversum. The artists of this offshoot of the Hague School chose the inhabitants of Laren and the surrounding landscape as the subject of their art.
Kees van Waning was a Dutch painter. His work was part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1928 Summer Olympics.
↑ At that time was The Hague was considered the most beautiful village in Europe.
↑ The small spots like Loosduinen, Voorburg and Wassenaar were quite popular because of their virginity.
↑ In the Netherlands the concept of societät or cooperative was practised. They are known as the guild of Sin Lucas, which was for the Painters. At the end of the eighteenth century they discontonued.
↑ The old academy has nothing in common with the new one.
↑ Since the rule of Napoleon these academies were completely under state control and the local teaching conception. And these new cooperatives meant the outbreak of these artists, linked to the freedom of genre and color palette. They wanted to determine the expressiveness of the colors by themselves.
↑ Pulchri Studio developed for the resident artists' colonies of The Hague, Laren and the estate Oosterbeek the center and was also the linking of creativity, the contact with each other and the world outside, too.
↑ This exhibition at the Kingdom of the united Netherlands was very important. She was the only way for the still unknown painters to be become known at all in the home.
↑ This attached particular importance to the location seat of the government and the king.
↑ Cirque de Pepin. "H.M.S. is back". OKT 2007. Cirque.nl. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
↑ In 1682, the Academy was initially founded as a school of art and it is the oldest art school in the Netherlands. It was established through a private initiative.
↑ An important influence came from August Macke and Paul Klee. During their tunisian travel in 1914 they had chosen this painting technique in watercolours. The artists wanted to show the very bright luminous intensity over there.
↑ Kandisky from the expressionist community Blue Rider from Munich also took care of the watercolour painting. As part of the art movement of avant-garde he led the watercolour painting to a new meaning.
↑ In this context, the chapter A world of light, P. 7 – 32, Impressionism, an international art movement from 1860 to 1920 referred by Norma Broude is very informative. Here it can be seen how much the conflict was between the shaking off the neoclassicism and romanticism and the retention of the tradition of craft and the old ways. – The landscape painting of "The 1. Golden Age of the Netherlands" is precisely that tradition, which was rejected by them.
↑ One relied on the strength of Puchri Studion and her reputation in the country and abroad.
↑ Bley, Britta: Vom Staat zur Nation (in German) – From the state to the nation, page 124-125.
↑ The existence of Pulchri today and the very well known Museum Mesdag was the best proof.
↑ Georg Hendrik Breitener was the forerunner of the Amsterdam Impressionism as part of the international movement of impressionism. He was a painter of panel painting and a pioneer of photography. He left about 2.000 negatives.
Bibliography
Broude, Norma (1990: World Impressionism: The International Movement — 1860–1920, Harry N. Abrams, inc. ISBN0-8109-1774-2.
Bley, Britta (2004): Vom Staat zur Nation: Zur Rolle der Kunst bei der Herausbildung eines Niederländischen Nationalbewußtseins im langen 19. Jahrhundert. LIT-Verlag, Münster, (in German Language), ISBN3-8258-7902-X.
Dom, Ronald (1996): Van Gogh und die Haager Schule. Ausst.-Kat. Wien, (in German Language), ISBN88-8118-072-3.
Roland Holst, Richard (1917): Hollandsche Teekenmaatschappij Pulchri Studio. 1917.
De Leeuw, Ronald; Sillevis, John and Dumas, Charles (1983): The Hague School, Dutch Masters of the 19th Century. — Exhibition-Catalogue, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, ISBN0-297-78069-7.
Van Druten, Terry; Van Dijk, Maite and Sillevis, John (2005): De aquarel – Nederlandse meesters van de negentiende eeuw. THOT, Teylers Museum und De Mesdag Collectie, Bussum 2015, ISBN978-90-6868-673-9.
Tholen, Willem Bastian (1914): Hollandsche Teekenmaatschappij. The Hague 1914.
Stolwijk, Chris (1998): Uit de Schilderswereld, Primavera Pers-Leiden, Leiden, ISBN978-9074-310352.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
