The Bergen School

Bergen School

For over a century, Bergen has held a strong fascination for artists. Painters such as Piet van Wijngaerdt, Matthieu Wiegman, Dirk Filarski, Toon kelder, Else Berg, Arnout Colnot, and Jaap Weijand found common ground in their love of the countryside, the dunes, and the seascape. Their work displays parallels in theme, palette, and brushwork, demonstrating a deep mutual inspiration. Together, they form the Bergen School, with Leo Gestel as the undisputed grandmaster. They prefer to paint landscapes, characteristic places, and still lifes, but just as often express their friendship and connection with each other and with their friends, family, and admirers on canvas.

At Home in Kranenburgh

The artists of the Bergen School are at home in Museum Kranenburgh. Their work forms a significant part of the collection and thus forms the foundation of the museum. Every year, the curators at Kranenburgh embark on a collection exploration, resulting in a thematic presentation. Following “NAKED – The Vulnerable Body” in Kranenburgh’s new building, this exhibition focuses on the human figure: sometimes unclothed and seemingly unobserved, like Harrie Kuyten’s “Reclining Woman Reading on the Beach” (1915), sometimes in a subdued everyday setting, like the girls by Arnout Colnot and Matthieu Wiegman. Or, conversely, posing self-confidently and “dressed to impress,” like Marie Boendermaker in her emerald robe by Jan Sluijters (1914).

Naked

While painting nudes gained popularity at the beginning of the last century, in practice they were still difficult and shrouded in taboos. Matthieu Wiegman therefore titled his nude “Susanna” (1927), after the Old Testament beauty spied on by peeping toms while taking a bath. Jaap Weijand also chose this biblical label for his nude in a night-time forest: ‘Susanna and the Elders’ (1932).