old masters and new dutch design

This year Masterly The Hague is taking place for the first time. A festival where historical Dutch masterpieces are combined with Dutch Design. This pas de deux between new and old leads to surprising insights into the beauty of art and provides a unique discovery of beauty and craftsmanship.

For Masterly The Hague, Michael Barnaart was inspired by a flower still life by Hendric Schoock (1630-1707). The flower still life represents beauty. In the Golden Age the interest in science and botany increased, so that the flower still life flourished. The tulip is a reference to the tulip mania in the 17th century and because of their limited flowering they symbolize transience.

Image: Masterly The Hague, painting from the Hoogsteder & Hoogsteder collection (detail)

The flower still lifes are usually not painted to reality, but composed of flowers that do not bloom at the same time. Sometimes artists based themselves on botanical prints. For the fabric design Michael Barnaart dissected the contours of the flowers and made a new composition.

Image left: Masterly The Hague, painting from the Hoogsteder & Hoogsteder collection

The result is a charming clock dress with the playful design of Schoock’s flower contours. The dress is available in two different color variations: black with gentian blue and burgundy with fuchsia. To finish your outfit there are also matching scarves available.