These model canalside houses will always remind me of a trip, a few years ago, to Amsterdam, mainly to visit an exhibition of paintings by Vincent van Gogh. I have the lovely and comprehensive exhibition catalogue, plus a few other books on his life and work. I also found this website: http://vangoghletters.org/vg/ where it's possible to read van Gogh's letters in the original Dutch or French and also in English translation. For me, they are illuminating and have made me realise that he was as gifted with the pen as he was with the paintbrush.
Interesting and unusual little models Hazel, all with different doors. How nice to have this reminder of your time in Amsterdam and of course Van Gogh.
Interesting Doors shot. I went. Over to Amsterdam once on DFDS ferries which goes from them Tyne. Did a canal trip which views these houses from the water. Visited the Anne Frank museum but couldn't fit anything else in to the time we had there. The journey back over the North Sea was horrendous so I said I would never go over by sea again!
@wordpixman Glad to revive memories. I don't usually do cities as I find them too overwhelming but Amsterdam was quite village-like, I thought, with the lay-out of the canals making it seem cosy.
@barbcapecod These are the only model houses that I have - there are ten houses altogether and they are on a stand with steps down to the canal and even a small boat!
Very recognizable to me.
An other museum in Holland with a lot of his paintings and drawings is:
Kröller-Müller Museum. http://www.kmm.nl
I wonder, if he have not write that much will he be as famous as he is now.
@pyrrhula Thank you for the link- shall have a look later. I think most people are unaware of van Gogh's writing but more know him for his illness, notably the incident of the ear.............. I was given to understand that one or two of my little model houses (they are 10 in all) are exact replicas of actual houses.
I disagree with you . at least in Holland, there are more books written of his life as he have make paintings ( I think so ) I`ve visit the Museum two years ago (For other art ) and when I left I feel if I have visit a church. No one was talking , all people where deeply devoted to the paintings.
To the pumps, yes ice cold, it came from deep out of the ground. Love it still,
@pyrrhula Ferry, I think that I misunderstood what you said and that we are actually in agreement. I have a few books about van Gogh, the most recent one being 'The Yellow House.' (published in 2008) about the nine weeks he spent with Gaugin in Provence.
I know that over the years many theories have been put forward as to the diagnosis of van Gogh's illness. Martin Gayford, the author of 'The Yellow House', believes that van Gogh suffered from bipolar disorder. This particularly interests me as I have also have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and in the past have sometimes been very ill indeed with it. Thankfully, since I myself found out my diagnosis, I have been able to manage my lifestyle and it is 10 years since I was last in hospital. So you can see why I have such an interest in van Gogh! But I liked his paintings long before I knew about his (or my) illness.
January 11th, 2013
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An other museum in Holland with a lot of his paintings and drawings is:
Kröller-Müller Museum. http://www.kmm.nl
I wonder, if he have not write that much will he be as famous as he is now.
To the pumps, yes ice cold, it came from deep out of the ground. Love it still,
I know that over the years many theories have been put forward as to the diagnosis of van Gogh's illness. Martin Gayford, the author of 'The Yellow House', believes that van Gogh suffered from bipolar disorder. This particularly interests me as I have also have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and in the past have sometimes been very ill indeed with it. Thankfully, since I myself found out my diagnosis, I have been able to manage my lifestyle and it is 10 years since I was last in hospital. So you can see why I have such an interest in van Gogh! But I liked his paintings long before I knew about his (or my) illness.