Royal commissioner of fine arts Hendrik Willem Mesdag's work for the St. Louis World's Fair (1904)
On 17 February 1903, the artist Hendrik Willem Mesdag was appointed by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands as commissioner of fine arts for the Louisiana purchase exposition. This World’s Fair was to take place the following year in St. Louis (Missouri, US) and, as government commissioner, Mesdag wa...
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| Veröffentlicht in: | Oud-Holland |
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| Format: | UnknownFormat |
| Sprache: | eng |
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2022
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Tag hinzufügen | Zusammenfassung: | On 17 February 1903, the artist Hendrik Willem Mesdag was appointed by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands as commissioner of fine arts for the Louisiana purchase exposition. This World’s Fair was to take place the following year in St. Louis (Missouri, US) and, as government commissioner, Mesdag was responsible for the exhibition of Dutch art. Using archive documents, this article reconstructs Mesdag’s methods as an organiser and the results that he achieved. The context of the growing popularity of Dutch art in the United States around 1900 is described first to highlight a general awareness of the fact that ‘international expositions’ presented ideal opportunities to bring Dutch artists to the attention of the American public. Next, an analysis of the organisation and reception of the Dutch art department in St. Louis shows how Mesdag used his strong networks in the Netherlands and abroad to generate publicity and recognition for Dutch artists in St. Louis. With his connections in Dutch politics and among the American organisers, he was able to secure a grant and arrange favourable exhibition space. Thanks to the efforts of his confidant Willy Martens and Mesdag’s contacts in the United States, the artists were well represented on the international jury that awarded prizes, and many American art critics and collectors visited the Dutch art department. However, not all Dutch artists were able to benefit from Mesdag’s influence. The selection of artworks and the way they were presented to the public were designed to uphold the existing image of the Netherlands and its art – as realistic, simple and pure – which enjoyed great popularity in the United States. This created a narrative which, though favourable to Mesdag’s closest friends and artists who belonged to his inner circle, perpetuated and reinforced a one-sided image of modern Dutch art. |
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| Beschreibung: | Illustrationen |
| ISSN: | 0030-672X |