The most recent Friends Lecture was The Art of Laughter – Finding the Fun in the Dutch Baroque, lecture by Mariska Beekenkamp-Wladimiroff .
Review by Susan Mark and Caroline Wort, artists and PSAD students
I was really pleased to attend the talk by Mariska Beekenkamp-Wladimiroff on The Art of Laughter at PDSA last Saturday 16th May. It was a fascinating exploration of a unique Dutch style of painting which developed during the so called Golden Age (17th century). The artists of the time include Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Pieter Bruegel (the elder), Rembrandt and Joos van Craesbeeck, to name just a few. Although familiar with these names and some of their works I have never looked closely enough to see that they often, if not always, had a joke within the scene.
Once you start looking at these paintings you recognise a funny, cheeky, sometimes quite vulgar depiction of day to day life and the social norms of the time. These artists captured hilarious laughter and a sense of the ridiculous with roots in old Dutch jokes and proverbs. No wonder they were hugely popular and admired at the centre of the home. They feel more like popular situation-comedies than serious-sermons. Mariska encourage us all to look out for these jokes in the Dutch masters and not be afraid to laugh out loud. I will certainly do exactly that when I next visit a gallery and spot a Golden Age Dutch artwork.
This was my first lecture at PSAD and I look forward to the next. Warm welcome on arrival, a great speaker and free to members but only £5 for guests.
More about Mariska and Art Historical London.
Photos by Sniez Torbarina, PSAD Friends trustee.
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