I took some time for myself one day this week and did the things that I really like. First I went sweating to a local pilates & dance studio and did the essentrix workout. After stretching, following the choreography and working out I felt like a new person, full of energy. This type of exercise wakes up my blood circulation and I feel energetic the whole day afterwards. Maybe I was too sweaty and my outfit was not so suitable for a museum visit, but I really wanted to go to the Foam-museum, which is the right place to see the works made by old and new, well known or not so well known photographers. After focusing sport in the morning I was ready to feed my visual hunger.
This time I concentrated more on the photo collection and the story behind the great french photographer Jacques Henri Lartigue(1894-1986). His colourful photos (Life in Colour) made me happy. He is also very well known from his black and white photography. Lartique started to take more colour pictures in 1950's when the new technology made it finally possible. His beloved wife "Florette" is the main character in most of the pictures. The clothing, the scenes and the captured moments are documenting beautifully the almost surreal looking life of this couple and painting the picture of the elegant past.
I took few photo's with my mobile at the museum (sorry about the quality), but visit the website above for more information and inspiration. This is a lovely, small museum to visit in Amsterdam. Really a must!
Actually I was so interested of the life story of this great photographer, that I went shortly back to the museumshop today and bought the book about Lartique.
People are often capable to much more than we think and every person has something special...something that doesn't come necessarily very easily out to be seen for others. I like that the vulnerability and the sensitive part in people is sometimes more visible in that short moment, which is captured by a good photographer or by a painter.
There was also very interesting photos taken by Franceca Woodman (1958-1981)to be seen at the museum. She was an american photographer, who committed suicide at the age of 22. She herself was a subject in most of her photos, even she also used some other models to express her feelings. The naked body, sometimes partly covered or partly hidden behind the objects or breaking through from a big piece of paper. You can see the pain behind these photos. The contrast between the happy photos from Lartique and these somehow raw, vulnerable, violent and still beautiful pictures was huge. Hard to look at, but she wanted to be seen with her pain. There seemed to be a lot of chaos in her mind, but I guess she tried to work on her issues by making these photos and videos.
I walked along the Amstel river on my way to a tram stop. I was admiring the grey and cold winter scenery. It is good to see the beauty in dark colours too. We need contrasts, but the balance is important to find. Greetings from the river!
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| The Magere bridge on the back. |
