Nothing Is What It Seems: Dutch Art of the Golden Age
In this course you will embark on a fascinating journey where nothing is what it seems: an innocent bouquet of flowers hides a forbidden religious message, a happy family, where everyone is singing and laughing, turns out to be a warning against an undisciplined lifestyle, and a gorgeously dressed couple locked in a calm embrace are actually rigid with heart-breaking melancholy. Upon completion of this highly interactive course you will have gained a profound insight into the many layers of these seemingly realistic artworks, the true meaning of which critics do not agree about to this very day.
"Nice clouds,” critics would say, “But really, it isn’t quite art with a capital A, is it?” Until recently, Dutch Art of the Golden Age was seen as technically good, but not very interesting. It was just too realistic, where was the artistic imagination?
Today, this opinion on Dutch art has changed and the value of Golden Age artworks has soared. So what is the true meaning behind all these landscapes, seascapes, portraits and still lifes that look so real that you can feel the sea-breeze and smell the grapes?
Upon completion of this highly interactive course, you will have seen many highlights from the 16th and 17th century, you will be able to recognise the main painters, you have become confident in recognising, discussing and analysing a modern Dutch artwork and sharing your ideas with your peers.
Join us on this interactive journey, with daily excursions. Travel and entrance to museums are included in the course fee.
Student profile/target group
The course is open to participants (graduates and non-graduates) from all disciplines with a keen interest in Art History.
Approximately 40 contact hours.
The course combines many elements, from workshops to excursions, and no day is the same.
Typically, the morning part of the programme takes place in a classroom, which could be a lecture, or a seminar where you ask questions and explore the topic in the group. You may also find yourself in a panel discussion, defending a particular approach to art or painting your own masterpiece in a workshop exploring Modern or Golden Age artistic techniques.
The afternoon (and sometimes the entire day) is devoted to museum visits. Variation is ensured by going into the museum in small groups, bigger groups or on your own, sometimes with an assignment other times by spontaneous discussion.
During these excursions, we devote time to both the factual and technical aspects of the painting, as well as the more personal and subjective ones, so that by the end, you will have explored the paintings in many dynamic ways. Hidden meanings, unexpected techniques, your peers’ opinions or your own may surprise you and change and broaden your perception of the artworks again and again.
This course can be combined with
For more information
Required application documents
- Passport Copy
- Home University Transcripts
1 June 2017
Course director / Lecturers
Marrigje Paijmans, PhD
Adele-Marie Dzidzaria-Kööp, MPhil