Mesdag & Japan
In the late nineteenth century, the Dutch artist and collector, Hendrik Willem Mesdag, amassed an eclectic collection of Japanese arte facts, ranging from samurai swords and colourful earthenware to bronze cranes and majestic altar vases. At the time, decorative art from Japan was all the rage. This richly illustrated book places Mesdag’s collection in a cultural-historical context, paying homage to an idiosyncratic collector and his outstanding collection of Japanese applied art.
Author: Renske Suijver, in collaboration with Bram Donders.
Hendrik Willem Mesdag – kunstenaar, verzamelaar, entrepreneur
(‘Hendrik Willem Mesdag – artist, collector, entrepreneur’, only available in Dutch)
Hendrik Willem Mesdag (1831-1915) was one of the most powerful figures of his time in the Dutch art world. This richly illustrated monograph is the first publication to link Mesdag’s position as a celebrated marine painter and art collector with his skills as a businessman.
Mesdag’s wide-ranging network – both national and international – and the skilful use he made of his various roles and interests, enabled him to carve out a central position for himself in the cultural life of his time.
Hendrik Willem Mesdag – kunstenaar, verzamelaar, entrepreneur shows that alongside being a true ‘art tsar’ within the Dutch cultural world of his day, Mesdag was also a talented businessman and a versatile cultural entrepreneur.
Museum Mesdag: Catalogue of Paintings and Drawings
This scholarly publication, dating from 1996, describes all the paintings and drawings in the collection. It was written by Fred Leeman and Hanna Pennock, with contributions by Saskia de Bodt and Ronald de Leeuw.
Visit the library
More books and documentation on The Mesdag Collection is available in the library and reading room in Amsterdam.