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discover the places where Vincent lived and worked
 
 

Pulchri Studio
The Hague, The Netherlands

  • 1 Jan 1882 - 30 Jun 1882

In October 1881, Vincent became an associate member of Pulchri Studio with the help of the artist Anton Mauve (1838–1888). Pulchri Studio, an artists’ society in The Hague, was founded in 1847 to give its members opportunities to draw from life and to organise and attend art review sessions and exhibitions. Vincent cherished his membership, as it enabled him to meet other local artists and – at least as importantly – to draw from life twice a week. This saved him the expense of hiring a model, which could easily cost 1 or 2 guilders a day; by contrast, he paid 6.25 guilders for a six months membership at Pulchri. It is not certain if any of his drawings actually originated there.

Along with drawing evenings, Vincent attended an art criticism session and a tableau vivant. He was also approached by the artist Bernardus Johannes Blommers (1845–1914), who suggested he give a lecture at Pulchri on the magazine illustrations he actively collected (by artists such as Hubert von Herkomer, Frank Holl and George Dumaurier). The lecture ultimately did not take place, as the society’s board looked down on popular graphic work, which it regarded as something people could simply look at a bar.

Pulchri Studio leased the trustees’ room at the Hofje van Nieuwkoop. 

literature

Teun Berserik and Feico Hoekstra
Vincent van Gogh: de vroege jaren 
Amsterdam, 2012

F. Leeman and J. Sillevis
De Haagse School en de jonge Van Gogh
Zwolle, 2005

In de voetsporen van Van Gogh
Wandeling bij De Haagse School en de jonge Van Gogh
Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, 2005

Michiel van der Mast and Charles Dumas
Van Gogh en Den Haag
Zwolle, 1990

Jan Meyers
De jonge Vincent: jaren van vervoering en vernedering
Amsterdam, 1989

 
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