TE226 Helene Schjerfbeck Photo

Photographer’s Note

TE226

Helene Scherfbeck (1862 – 1946)

This is a compilation of two pictures of the billboard of the exhibition of the Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck
On the right side the original on the façade of the “Gemeentemuseum” in the Hague. Left its reflection in the pond of the museum.

There are a lot of famous paintings you know from its reproductions. When you see these pictures in real, they often come up to your expectations.
Sometimes the beauty of a painting is much more overwhelming than I expect. Then I stand rooted to the spot, forgetting all time and space, enjoying intensely the beauty of the painting.
Unexpected for me I had that experience with “View of the Grand Canal” of Canaletto in the Uffizi in Florence. A painting well known to me from its reproduction, but not especially appealing….. until I saw the real painting.
Several paintings of Vincent van Gogh, Karel Appel, Claude Monet and others have had the same effect on me.

…..And now several paintings of Helene Scherfbeck have joined my list of most valuable, overwhelming and breathtaking art.

Helene Schjerfbeck is in Finland a national heroine, and across all of Scandinavia she has gained, I think quit rightly, near-mythical status, yet in the rest of Europe she is virtually unknown. This year, 90 years after her death 3 European museums organize the first large-scale European exhibition of her art outside Scandinavia. The tour started in the Hamburger Kunsthalle, went then to the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague and is still to be visited from 20 October 2007 – 13 January 2008 in the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris

If you are in the position ……….

This exhibition features more than 120 oil paintings, watercolours and drawings from the influential painter’s extensive oeuvre. The portraits, self-portraits, landscapes and still lifes on show testify to Schjerfbeck’s highly individual style and affirm her position as an outstanding modernist artist.

The exhibition was an enormous and unexpected success in The Hague. The 3th edition of the catalogue was complete sold out before the ending of the exhibition.

If you want to see or know more of this painter, you can use the next links:

Gemeentemuseum, The Hague
Helene Scherfbeck, Wikipedia

isabela_sor, syd1946, anes_lc, Tue, chriswhitley, Gerrit, leonorkuhn, bertolucci, Floydian, jhm, riclopes, feather, john_c, emjleclercq, pablominto, siolaw, AiresSantos, jafadabret, UlfE, atus, Budapestman, jmdaoudal, Emile, mafegan has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

syd1946 (17999) 2007-09-10 12:35

Hello Rob,
Thanks for your fine and informative note about the paintings and the exhibition!Your camera captured in a great way this beautiful art.Thanks for sharing this with us!

Best wishes,
Thomas

anes_lc (14778) 2007-09-10 12:40

to be able for such shot you must be areal artist...is always a leson for me looking at your pictures and reading your notes
i did visit one gallery art here in reykjavik...maybe one day i will post special for you
thanks share
best regards,anes

Tue (25608) 2007-09-10 13:04

Hej Rob,
Opnieuw een prachtige kunstfoto, nu van de buitenkant van een museum, met dit dubbelportret. Leuk dat de hoofden naar elkaar toegewend zijn en de weerspiegeling is ook geweldig uiteraard.
Groeten,
Lars

chriswhitley (1494) 2007-09-10 13:05

Rob,
Your words about the overwhelming beauty of some paintings strikes a chord with me. There are many beautiful paintings, but just occasionally there is that one that has a hold on you and, as you say, roots you to the spot in the gallery. Oh, and by the way, your shot's not bad either ;) Chris

Gerrit (36553) 2007-09-10 13:20

Dag Rob, een heel bijzondere compilatie. Erg mooi en goed gedaan.
Groeten Gerrit

cam (8880) 2007-09-10 16:38

Hi Rob
It is the first time that I hear this name.
It seems that all the retrospective around here, turns around the impressionnist, which, even though they are beautiful, I am getting tire at seeing.So,when a less known artist comes around,I try to go and see what he did..
Talking about impressionist,the pond sure knows how to make one...:-)
Have a good day
Charles

leonorkuhn (14379) 2007-09-10 16:47

Hi Rob,

The reflection of the painting is more mysterious than the selfportrait. I like this composition, the painting face to face with its proper reflection.

Very well done!
Leonor

paura (39608) 2007-09-10 17:32

Rob,
Interesting and well composed photo. The technical adjustments are nice.

Well done.

Paulo

bertolucci (12022) 2007-09-11 0:24

Hoi Rob, knap en betekenisvol deze compilatie van een schilderij en haar reflectie.
En bedankt voor je persoonlijke note. De beleving die je beschrijft herken ik. Degene die me het eerst te binnen schiet is het effect dat een mpressionistisch schilderij van Monet op me had in het Musee d'Orsay.
Fijne week,
Bert

Floydian (30970) 2007-09-11 1:00

Hallo Rob,
Nooit van deze dame gehoord.
Je hebt er weer iets kunstzinnings van gemaakt i.p.v recht toe recht aan hier een mooie dubbel opname neergezet. Alleen de reflectie zou teveel van ons inlevingsvermogen vergen denk ik, maar het origineel er naast in mooi spiegelbeeld heb je mooi uitgevoerd.
Groet, Henk

UnTrained (0) 2007-09-11 1:32

Hallo Rob,
Finish painters were not in my view until now. But with a short look at Wikipedia and your capture I think it could be worth to change that with Helene Schjerfbeck. Let's see. As I can not compare the capture against the original painting, it is not easy to say something about the quality of yours here, and you describe yourself the often difference between the orginal and any reproduction (and you are right). But from the light well done, and the mirrored version also, a good addition with a new impression.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

jhm (83786) 2007-09-11 3:47

Hallo Rob,

Bedankt voor de goede link, op deze manier komen we meer te weten.
We zouden kunnen spreken van een spiegelbeeld in het water, zo naast elkaar met een goede hand geschoten, ook de kleuren en het geheel is prachtig. Goed werk hier Rob. Bedankt.

Groeten uit Vlaanderen,
John.

isabela_sor (42757) 2007-09-11 3:50

Two different visions about that portrait.My father has a lot of talent,and in 80's he tried to do a collection with oil paintings ,but never portraits because are to difficult,I think
Dear Rob,no need anymore to go to any exhibition here in Bucharest ...because I have your gallery
Hugs and thanks

riclopes (33143) 2007-09-11 4:06

Speeking of compilations, what an inpiring one you have here, Rob. Great idea and fantastic result - I almost have the hurge to go and paint something right now...I remember one artist that always have a big impact on me when I see his real paintings instead of reproductions: Tàpies. Superb presentation, excellent post.
Groet,
Ricardo

feather (50560) 2007-09-11 8:41

You will not be surprised that I didn't know about this artist either. Thanks for filling that gap in my education. Before reading your note I was puzzled by the image. I thought the one on the left looked like a reflection but could't see how! Now I get it! Good work reflectionmaster!
Kath

emjleclercq (14632) 2007-09-11 23:13

Very nice justaposition of images. The reflection is very good and in thethumbnail, I thought it was a variante of the original painting (on the other side, of course). A very good idea.

All the best,

Emmanuel

Graal (59126) 2007-09-12 0:47

Hi Rob,
amazing two portraits and interesting informations. Well quality of photo. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

ktanska (16743) 2007-09-12 5:02

Hi Rob,
Quite a combination! I can really sense flakyness of artist's mind on the left version. I just wonder if would be better on the right, to follow western style to read from left to right.
Nice to know her masterpieces are on tour.
Kari

John_F_Kennedy (32340) 2007-09-12 6:20

A wonderful light, very well contrasted picture very well composed.
Best wishes,
Achim

pablominto (41690) 2007-09-12 7:00

Hello Rob,
An stunning collage!
The artistic touch is great, and an original way of seeing things...
Attractive colours, and for me some education when it comes to Finnish painters!
Greetings,
Pablo -

john_c (24635) 2007-09-12 7:31

Hi Rob,
An innovative and clever portrayal of this; its like you have presented two versions of a painting - one abstract and the other one of realism. The reflection is extraordinarily effective and impressive. The exposure level and hues and tones really help create high impact. A real work of art, Rob. Cheers.
John

siolaw (25890) 2007-09-12 18:21

Hi Rob,
A good idea to put the actual poster side by side with its reflection.. it gives a strong visual impact... good colors, sharpness and textures.
Fine job here!
Laurent

AiresSantos (43270) 2007-09-13 0:50

Hi Rob,
Great note and work presented here. Excellent colours and light. very well framed and done, my friend
Thanks and have a nice day
Aires

jafadabret (40651) 2007-09-13 2:55

Rob, j'ai eu ce type d'émotion ua Musée du Louvre à Paris avec une peinture de Rembrandt, Pèlerins d'Emmaüs
. Ici l'affiche et son reflet deviennent une belle image pleine de grâce et de poésie.
Jacques

UlfE (9260) 2007-09-13 13:11

Hi Rob,

Fantastic and very artistic picture of an advertisment for an art exhibition. It is so fascinating the even if the reflection is rather close in shape the look of the poster is totally different from the reflection. An excellent photo job!

Cheers,

Ulf

atus (15476) 2007-09-13 16:29

Hi Rob,
very good idea to combine the two shots this unusual way. The clarity is very good and the sharpness is perfect with all the details visible.
The reflected image is really fantastic.
Well done and best wishes!
Attila

Mikos (4324) 2007-09-14 1:43

Dag Rob!

I am absoultely impressed about the result of this image. It is just like a two reflections on a very special mirror. Painting in this case has even more importance than picture itself, watching your image sometimes I forget about the picture itself!

Excellent job!

P.S: By the way thank you for your kind words! You do have an awesome gallery and job!

Cheers, have a great weekend!

Miguel

Budapestman (43292) 2007-09-14 2:55

Hi Rob,
Splendid image, composition is very attractive and particular. I like the creative realization and Idea. This is an interesting and spectacular premiére, Thank you for sharing. Very well done! Have a nice weekend
George

jmdaoudal (82) 2007-09-16 0:01

Fine works joining the two pictures, this gives a nice effect.
Portrait and note are attractive and the style is new to me and I like it.
Special colors from the painter too.
I like it
Jean Michel

mesutilgim (37583) 2007-09-17 14:01

Hello dear Rob,
Many thanks for this nice shot; but most of allk for all the beautifull notes ! Allthough I'm a painter as well, I didn't know her. With your great notes, I've been triggered now and allready started to surf in internet !
TFS and hav a nice evening,
MESUT ILGIM

Emile (20177) 2007-09-19 7:55

Hola Rob.
Very good composition with the paint face to face, excellent work with the reflection. Good POV, colors and composition. Thank you for your interesting note.
Well done. TFS.
Best regards.

Stepan (27175) 2007-09-19 14:28

That's excellent. A graphic and arty composition, with only few things and a lot of inspiration !
A very good idea.
Stéphane

batalay (21416) 2007-11-19 19:39

Hello Rob,

A very effective diptych, with a superlative note. I will follow your suggestions for the links to read more about the painter.
Warm regards,

Bulent

mafegan (4633) 2009-10-06 17:38

Hello rob
An original idea - very creative - with informative notes. Tfs, Marlene

Photo Information

Copyright: Rob Zwemmer (alvaraalto) (5305)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-26
Categories: Artwork
Exposure: f/8, 1/2000 seconds
More Photo Info: view
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Pictures at an exhibition, Spiegels van onze tijd [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-09-10 12:14