Hosting Mireille Mosler for Master Drawings New York

About

One of an illustrious trio of natural history artists from the wealthy Dutch port town of Hoorn, Anton’s distinctive insect drawings defined the genre in Holland. Henstenburgh also worked as a pastry chef, executing meat pies for parties and renting out tablecloths: the predecessor of a caterer.

Highlight of the exhibition is an early, Symbolist drawing by the Dutch De Stijl participant Bart van der Leck (1876-1958), The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins from 1906. A procession of five wise virgins-shimmering oil lamps in tow-are on their way to meet the bridegroom, the stars in the sky signifying the moment of judgement.

A 19th century drawing  of A Young Woman in front of the Saint Bavo, Haarlem by Nico Jungmann (1872-1935) conveys the artist’s fascination with the glory of the past. Dressed in traditional costume, the girl poses in front of the Gothic church, often depicted in 17th century Dutch painting. In Amsterdam, Max Nauta (1896-1957) is concerned with a canal at night in Armbrug Oudezijds Voorburgwal in1920. The Armbrug (or bend bridge) is a century old bridge, still popular with tourists today for its canal houses and location in the red-light district.

The Swedish Stina Forssell (1906-1970) is one of two female artists represented with a self-portrait from 1927. Commonly banned from drawing after the male nude, women often referred to themselves as models in the studio. A tender gouache on vellum, White Gorse, by the German Käthe Franck (1879-1941) shows another beloved subject by female artists: flora. As a Jew, Käthe’s participation in the art world and everyday life became limited. The doomsday scenario of racial laws and fearful of deportation, Käthe took her life on 20 September 1941.