DUTCH MASTERS AND JEWISH STORIES

From Rembrandt to Van Gogh: A Jewish Perspective

Welcome to my new two-part virtual journey through the art of the Netherlands seen through Jewish eyes.
We’ll explore masterworks from the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Jewish Museum of Amsterdam to uncover how art tells the story of Jewish life, presence, struggle, and creativity in the Netherlands.

July 30, Wednesday Part I: The Golden Age: Rembrandt, Vermeer, Picard and the Jewish Neighbors

In 17th-century Amsterdam, a city thriving with trade and tolerance, Dutch artists began to take an interest in their Jewish neighbors. Through the works of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and others, we’ll see how Jews slowly moved from being viewed as dangerous outsiders to becoming respected members of Dutch society.
Art reveals the evolution: from medieval fear and superstition to interest, coexistence, and even admiration. This part of the tour focuses on how Jewish life became visible in Dutch Golden Age painting.
The art collection of Rijksmuseum will lead us through this period of transformation.

July 31, Thursday Part II: From Van Gogh to the Holocaust and Beyond

As we move into the late 19th and 20th centuries, Jewish artists themselves begin to take the stage. In this part, we’ll explore how Jewish painters shaped modern Dutch art and how Jewish collectors helped change the entire art market.

We’ll learn how Van Gogh’s rise was tied to a Jewish connection, meet gifted artists whose lives were cut short by the Holocaust, and see how contemporary Jewish artists in the Netherlands continue to reflect identity, memory, and resilience through their work.

I have created it not just as another lecture, but rather as a story of cultural exchange, survival, transformation, and beauty.

So, come and join me in uncovering the Jewish stories hidden in the heart of Dutch art!