It's time to give traditional art a modern look

Let's be honest: The chance of seeing young people in a large row to score a Delft blue mill or a wooden shoe in a souvenir shop in Amsterdam is just as high as seeing Rembrandt alive in a Dutch TV show. Old art, like Delft blue, is often associated with words like ‘old fashioned’ and ‘outdated’. Or, as people under the age of twenty often wrongly say: ‘Booooring…’

Delft blue with a modern touch

Polder landscapes with mills, wooden shoes and ice scenes: it’s what Delft blue made famous for decades. Indeed, made: although it was absolutely successful from the start, the end of it, with many closed potteries, was painful... More about this, I have written in this blog.

Although Delft blue has got a new start in lesser extent, it still has that old-fashioned character. Because, to be honest, how many young people are heavenly into Old Dutch landscapes?

That’s why I want to do it differently. I want to give Delft blue a modern look: a match with the nowadays wishes. Besides more traditional themes, such as Old Dutch breeds, I also want to go outside Europe, such as painting exotic species. But, what is the connection between exotic animals and Delft blue?

Exotic animals in the Dutch Golden Age

At the same time that Delft blue arose -as a reaction to the more luxurious, Chinese merchandise- The Netherlands was one of the greatest and biggest seafaring nations alongside France, England, Spain and Portugal. Many countries were discovered and -sometimes- even colonized. During these trips, performed by the VOC, known as the Dutch East India Company, and WIC, the Dutch West India Company, many exotic continents, such as America, Africa, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia, became on the map of discoveries.

Because of these trips, not only herbs and spices were brought to The Netherlands, also some living creatures were introduced. Tropical birds, like the peacock and pheasant, but also monkeys and parrots: they all were transported to Holland. The paintings from Melchior d’Hondecoeter, like the famous Menagerie, to be seen in the Amsterdam Rijksmuseum, are the direct pieces of evident of these trips. Because, how did an artist from the Golden Age, when travelling with KLM to other continents wasn’t possible yet, knew how to paint these kinds of species just that realistic? Even Rembrandt was a big fan of these animal products, such as shark teeth, shells or even the skull of a crocodile…

It's time for exotic Delft Blue

Exotic animals and Delft blue doesn't have a direct connection, but are both linked to the Golden Age. So, reasons enough to bring these two together!

To give Delft blue a complete new and fresh look, it’s now up to the exotic species. Exotic animals painted in the typical blue-white colour combination, just like their upcoming, Old Dutch family members. The traditional part will be modernized without losing the most important elements, like the blue colour. Modern Delft blue by Dominique Laurine will go for the best, catchy artworks: the perfect matches for the modern interior.

Only Delft blue?

Will it all be Delft Blue that’s coming up? No. The natural versions will be painted too in an equal amount, although Delft blue will play a more important role than before. Not only to give it the chance to blossom again: it also gives me a lot of energy to work on this!

It will be tougher, it will be more bold and brutal: it will be a flamboyant upgrade. Inspired by Melchior d’Hondecoeter, but with the traditional colours that made The Netherlands worldwide famous. And, hopefully will make again…

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