Now That's What I Call Art (26/08)

Strolling around rows upon rows of antique stalls on the Lange Voorhout was a lovely way to spend the Sunday morning. There were tiny silver spoons and golden earring all piled in glass cabinets, streams of delicately hung vintage clothing, orderly placed items of heavy mahogany furniture, well-worn newspapers and postcards from times gone by and so much more. The magnitude of stalls and utter depth of antiques meant that before I knew it afternoon was approaching. Having also looked around the experimental sculptures which decorated the market I was totally in the mood for more art.

Air and Water, Escher

I visited the Eschermusuem, a former palace on the Lange Voorhurt holding a vast number of infamous works by M. C. Escher (a Dutch graphic artist). There was  a technical, even mathematical, nature to his work which when combined with his meticulous realism produced amazing optical illusions and astounding metamorphoses.  A practical workshop on the highest floor of the gallery laid out how such effects were made and how, because you did need convincing, the images he created were simply not possible. These ahead-of-their-time wood-cuttings and lithographs were all showcased against the backdrop of a traditional palace yet modern, sensational chandeliers by artist Hans van Bentem hung in each chamber.

Now That's What I Call Art.