Jan Miense Molenaer, the Kylie Jenner of his generation.
So if you’re all about Rembrandt, Vermeer, or maybe some Adriaen Brouwer if you like ‘em a little more obscure, I’ve got news for you!
Dutch museum, the Mauritshuis, just announced their newest book, Genre Painting in the Mauritshuis, and it’s a must have. Academic research on Genre Paintings a snoooozefest? Heck no! If you like scandals, secrets, and solving cryptic puzzles, chances are you already love ‘em.
Nerds at the Mauritshuis found some saucy new details on your favorite paintings and they were kind enough to send out a preview.
1. Jan tried to pretend he was less of a perv.
The Touch by Jan Miense Molenaers, in the Mauritshuis.
Many still don’t seem to understand, but groping without consent really is a crime. Also, it’s basic common sense and decency, people. Okay, so it might not have been punishable back in the 1600′s, but the lady clearly tells the creepy old farmer to ‘eff off, by hitting him on the head with her slipper. U go gurl! I’m not advocating violence, but try using a glass bottle next time to really send the message home.
As if this painting isn’t disturbing enough, originally it was even worse. X-rays show our Jan tried to censor his painting. He didn’t just paint an assault scene to depict one of the 5 basic human senses, “touch”. Oh no, he also showed the poor girl’s bare leg, which was quite a thing back then. He tried to cover-up his pervyness, but Jan’s got nothing on our modern day technology, busted buddy!
2. He’s not asking her for the time.
The Proposition by Judith Leyster, in the Mauritshuis.
Or: Any girl ever, trying to ignore a random creep at the store/bar/club.Golden (age) babe Judith Leyster wasn’t necessarily the epitome of feminism. After all, she basically ruined her career because she didn’t want her talent to overshadow her husbands career. I find the guy in this painting pretty intrusive, but it could’ve been worse and X-rays show it was. The guy was actually grabbing her neck, while offering her money for who knows what…
By the way, the Louvre was once tricked into thinking they bought a painting by Frans Hals. It’s not like they really made an effort though, right next to the signature it literally said: “Don’t bother looking under here”. Underneath the fake signature they found our girl Judith Leyster’s initials. This wasn’t the first and certainly not the last time a museum got tricked!
3. Finders keepers!
Country Inn by Cornelis Dusart & Adriaen van Ostade, in the Mauritshuis.
All those years you thought Cornelis Dusart painted this gem, but nope! Well, okay… he kind of painted it, finished it rather. Country Inn was probably an unfinished painting by van Ostade. Do you think Dusart betrayed his master on purpose and tricked people into thinking it was his painting? Or maybe our fellow art history nerds at the Mauritshuis finally got a new pair of glasses and spotted the second signature? We can only hope the book will give us some much needed answers. Now hurry up mr. postman!
By: Silke
Contributor