Huize Kolthoorn: Garden as Inspiration – An Exhibition at Geelvinck Pianola Museum

This exhibition explores how artists, particularly during the fin de siècle, found inspiration in their gardens, drawing parallels between Claude Monet's Giverny and the transformation of the Huize Kolthoorn garden by painters Jan and Hedwig Kleintjes-van Osselen. It showcases artworks from the museum's collection that capture these garden themes, alongside objects from the era.

The exhibition 'Huize Kolthoorn: Tuin tot Inspiratie' delves into the significant influence of gardens on artists during the fin de siècle, a period when nature and landscape became central themes in art. It highlights the parallel between Claude Monet's world-famous garden in Giverny and the development of the garden at Huize Kolthoorn by the painter couple Jan and Hedwig Kleintjes-van Osselen. Upon settling at Huize Kolthoorn in 1899, they transformed the expansive grounds into a flower-filled park with a stream, a substantial vegetable garden, a small orchard, and an arboretum, incorporating clear Japanese influences and reflecting the prevailing fashions of the time, much like Monet's celebrated garden. This exhibition is intrinsically linked to the Geelvinck Pianola Museum's own history and collection. The museum's origins trace back to the family who inhabited Huize Kolthoorn for two generations. Today, the museum stewards a collection of around 50 works by Jan Kleintjes and Hedwig van Osselen, with impressions of their garden serving as a primary subject. While the house and garden have undergone changes since Jan Kleintjes' passing in 1955, the current residents have dedicated themselves to recreating the cultural atmosphere that Jan and Hedwig established over a century ago. Visitors can explore not only paintings and drawings but also various objects preserved from Jan and Hedwig's time, offering a glimpse into their artistic lives and their connection to the inspiring garden environment.

Information about admission and opening hours for this exhibition can be found on the museum's general visitor information pages. Please check the official website for the most up-to-date details.