Johannes Vermeer’s world-famous Girl with a Pearl Earring is back home in The Hague following a successful visit to Japan. After attracting considerable attention and long queues in Osaka, the painting returned to its familiar place at the Mauritshuis, where visitors have been able to admire it again since Monday 5 October.
The return comes as The Hague prepares for an autumn filled with art exhibitions celebrating five of the city’s most famous artists: Vermeer, Rembrandt, Mondrian, Escher and Mesdag. With their works displayed in museums within easy reach of one another, this is an opportunity for residents and visitors to explore some of the Netherlands’ most celebrated art collections.
Five Great Artists in One City
“The fact that Girl with a Pearl Earring attracts so many visitors in Japan demonstrates the international appeal of The Hague’s art collections,” said Alderman for Culture Lotte van Basten Batenburg.
“What makes The Hague special is that visitors don’t have to come for just one masterpiece. Vermeer, Rembrandt, Mondrian, Escher and Mesdag can all be seen here within a short distance of each other, each in their own unique setting.”
At the Mauritshuis, Girl with a Pearl Earring has returned to a collection that also includes major works by Rembrandt. From 15 October, the museum will host a special exhibition in collaboration with the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid, featuring 25 masterpieces from the Spanish museum’s collection.
New Exhibitions Across The Hague
At Museum Panorama Mesdag, Betzy Akersloot-Berg: One of a Kind opened in early October. The exhibition is the first major Dutch retrospective devoted to the Norwegian-Dutch painter, highlighting her dramatic seascapes, international career and role as a successful artist and businesswoman.
The exhibition also explores her friendship with Hendrik Willem Mesdag and Sientje Mesdag-van Houten. Visitors can discover her work alongside Mesdag’s own maritime paintings and his famous panoramic depiction of Scheveningen in 1881.
Meanwhile, Kunstmuseum Den Haag is preparing a new presentation of its internationally renowned Mondrian collection. Opening on 10 October, Mondrian & The Road to Abstraction explores the artist’s development from figurative landscapes to the abstract compositions for which he became famous.
The museum holds the world’s largest collection of works by Piet Mondrian, including his celebrated Victory Boogie Woogie. To mark the opening, Kunstmuseum Den Haag is offering free admission on Saturday 10 October, with additional free activities taking place throughout the weekend.
Last Chance to Discover Escher and Islamic Art
At Escher in Het Paleis, visitors have until 1 November to see Escher & Islamic Art: 20 Perspectives.
The exhibition explores how Islamic architecture and the geometric patterns of the Alhambra influenced M.C. Escher’s fascination with rhythm, repetition and interconnected shapes. His work is presented alongside that of 20 contemporary artists.
For visitors interested in discovering several museums, combination tickets are available for Escher in Het Paleis together with the Mauritshuis or Museum Panorama Mesdag.
With the return of Vermeer’s most famous painting and several exhibitions opening across the city, autumn offers plenty of opportunities to discover The Hague’s rich artistic heritage.
More information:
Mauritshuis – Girl with a Pearl Earring:
https://www.mauritshuis.nl/en/our-collection/artworks/670-girl-with-a-pearl-earring
Kunstmuseum Den Haag – New Collection Presentations:
https://www.kunstmuseum.nl/en/press/kunstmuseum-den-haag-celebrates-its-unique-collection-big-way
Escher in Het Paleis – Tickets:
https://tickets.escherinhetpaleis.nl/
Source: The Hague & Partners
Translation to English/Editing: The Hague Online
Image Credit: Mauritshuis