The red kimono...



At the beginning of this year I asked Dutch miniaturist Elly Ypma to paint a miniature version of Breitner's 'The red kimono'.   

George Hendrik Breitner (1857-1923) was a Dutch painter and photographer who was known for his realistic style in his paintings of street scenes and harbours.  Breitner, a member of the Amsterdam Impressionism movement, often used photography as reference materials for his paintings.

I visited the Rijksmuseum in May, where the original painting was part of the 
'Breitner: Girl in a kimono' exhibition.  


The model for the painting was Geesje Kwak, a girl who posed for Breitner between the ages of 16 and 18.  From the time of his stay in Paris in 1884, where Japonism dominated the fashion scene, Breitner became fascinated by Japanese art. Geesje Kwak was the subject of a series of seven paintings and studies by Breitner of a girl dressed in a red or white kimono.  

Geesje Kwak. Photo by Breitner.

Geesje Kwak.  Study for 'The red kimono', 1893.  Photo by Breitner. 

Sketch for 'The red kimono', Breitner.

'The red kimono'  by Breitner, 1896.  Exhibited at the Rijksmuseum 2016 (with unknown gentleman). 

'The red kimono', (detail) Breitner 1896.  


Elly sent me her wonderful miniature version of the painting in April 2016.  She had made a thin frame for it, but I wanted the frame to look more like the one I had seen in the museum, so I ordered a frame from John Hodgson which had the right look.  It fitted perfectly around the original frame!  

I aged both frames with some acrylic paint to tone down some of the golden shine.  Although not entirely the same as the original frame, I do really like it.  


The painting is bigger (well, in twelfth scale anyway) than the original, but I asked for that as I wanted it to fill the space above the fireplace mantel.  

The room is not finished yet,  but in time I will find or make everything to pull it all together.  One thing I do want to get is a picture light to make it stand out in the room a bit more.  


Elly did a fantastic job on this painting.  I always like how she doesn't make the painting exactly the same as the original, but uses a bit of her own style in it.  

Below is a short video I found on YouTube with some more information on Breitner and his kimono paintings:




sources:  


Comments

  1. Oh, my! That is a breathtaking painting! She did an excellent job. :D

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    1. She did! I think she reads my blog too so it will be nice for her to read the compliments ;-)

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  2. Merci de nous faire découvrir ce merveilleux tableau (que je ne connaissais pas) et bravo à l'artiste qui a réalisé la copie miniature.

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    1. Thank you Jean-Claude. I will pass on the compliment!

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  3. This reproduction is very faithful to the original and gives an exceptional personal touch to your interieur in miniature, dear Josje! Thank you for showing us such beautiful and rare creation with its history. ♥

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  4. Wow! Josje, You have the most incredible eye for details! And Elly Ypma is an awesome painter!! To have captured so much of the essence of the original painting, but on such a small scale is amazing! The painting is stunning!!! And the added layer of frame is just right. I love to see how you "collect" the pieces for your rooms... they will eventually be masterpieces because every single item will be a well chosen perfect little masterpiece! Well, really, they already are masterpieces! Thank you for sharing so much of the history of this beautiful painting!

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    1. Thank you Betsy! Yes, I really like Elly's style for these type of paintings. It is a shame it is in the back of the dolls house room. It is a real delight to hold it in my hand, but I can't very well walk around with it all day ;-)

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  5. What a masterpiece!!! How wonderful to have such a replica in your room. Thank you for the story about this painting!
    Geneviève

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  6. Dear Josje, The painting is breathtaking. How lucky you are to possess such a replica in miniature.
    I am so envious that you saw the collection of the Girl in the Kimono at the Rijks. A very rare opportunity to see the them together. Thank you for sharing her with us and for making the video available.
    Regards for the Christmas season,
    Janine

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    1. Hello Janine! The exhibition was wonderful. Not too big and not too busy, so it was easy to see everything at our own pace. And now I have a miniature version of one of the kimono girls.
      Happy Holidays!

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  7. I not only LOVE the painting but I also am bowled over by how you have filled up the chimney breast with this Exquisite masterwork in its massive frame! The scale works BEAUTIFULLY!
    The pattern on the kimono and the turkish rugs in the painting, picks up the colors and patterns in the William Morris wall paper, and I ADORE the mix of the baroque gilded frame together with the clean lines of the other furnishings.
    A skillful and perfectly balanced mix with the painting tying all of the elements of this cosy room together with Artistry and Style. ♥

    elizabeth

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    1. Thank you Elizabeth! You are very perceptive! The abundant use of pattern in the painting is something I really love, and would like to further expand on in the room. I did a little bit of pattern (and texture) mixing in the study as well. I would like many more carpets in this style, so it will take time to collect or make those.

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  8. Ohhhh... I am at loss of words ! amazingly beautiful, out of this world, are not enough.

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    1. Thank you Rosanna! I will tell Elly, she will be so pleased to hear this. Hope you had a great birthday! You are part of the club now! Don't worry, it's not painful. ;-)

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