Ways of Seeing
What we see is always influenced by assumptions on beauty, truth, civilization, shape, taste, class and gender. If we see, we're not only looking, but we read the language of images. In the series ' Ways of Seeing ' we explore this, but we don't want to explain it too much.
Let's just see.
Would you like to read more about how we see the world around us? John Berger wrote the classic book Ways of Seeing (1972) and changed it for good our vision of art.
Please note that this is an online series, the art is not on show in the museum at the moment.
Outfit nr. 47, collection 'Prêt-à-porter' & Composition no. 3
| Left: Comme des Garçons (designer Rei Kawakubo, Tokyo 1924) Outfit nr. 47, collection ‘Prêt-à-porter’, spring/summer 1997. Polyurethane, down, cowhide leather, polyester and nylon. Purchased 1997. | Right: Wobbe Alkema (Nieuw Buinen 1900-1984 Kampen) Composition no. 3 Oil on canvas, 80 x 80 cm. Purchased in 1987, with support from the Vereniging Rebrandt and J.B. Scholtenfonds Foundation. |
A history of Seks & Chris tand the Lamb
| Left: Andres Serrano (New York 1950), ‘A history of Seks’ (Eline), 1996. Cibachrome, 152 x 126 cm. Aankoop 1997. | Right: Jeff Koons (York, Pennsylvania 1955), 'Chris tand the Lamb', 1988. Plate-glas, gilt frame, 178 x 139 x 20 cm. Purchased in 1994, with support from the Vereniging Rebrandt, made possible by the Prins Bernhard Culture fund. |
Charley Toorop and Elisabeth Geertruida Wassenbergh
| Left: Charley Toorop (Katwijk 1891 – 1955 Bergen NH), Self-portrait with three children, 1929. Oil on canvas, 101 x 81 cm. Purchased in 1958. | Right: Elisabeth Geertruida Wassenbergh (Groningen 1729 – 1781 Groningen), Self-portrait at the age of 28, 1754. Gouache on parchment, 14,3 x 11,7 cm. Gift from the union Vrienden van het Groninger Museum, 2003. |
Red Chiffon Dress & Sprinting Forward 2
| Left: Azzedine Alaïa (Jemmal 1940 – 2017 Paris), ‘Red Chiffon Dress, 1997/8. Chiffon. Gift from the artist, 1999. | Right: Chi Peng (Yantai 1981), ‘Sprinting Forward 2’, 2004. Lambda photo print (gloss), 120 x 152,5 cm. Purchased 2011. |
The church of Vaugirard & View of the northern wall of the coir of the Nicolai Church in Appingedam
| Left: Paul Gauguin (Paris 1848-1903 Fatu Hiva), ‘The church of Vaugirard’, 1897. Oil on canvas, 50 x 34,5 cm. Collection J.B. Scholtenfonds Foundation, collection R.J. Veendorp, loan since 1969. | Right: Henk Helmantel (Westeremden 1945), ‘View of the northern wall of the coir of the Nicolai Church in Appingedam’, 2012. Oil on panel, 84 x 94 cm. Purchased in 2014, with support from the BankGiro Loterij. |
Cluster no. 6 & The journey to Berlin, Hasidic legends
| Left: Peter Struycken (The Hague 1939), Cluster no. 6, 1975. Acrylic paint on perspex, 200 x 133 cm. Purchased in 1976. | Right: Hendrik Nicolaas Werkman (Leens 1882 – 1945 Bakkeveen), ‘The journey to Berlin, Hasidic legends’, 1942. Print, 51,1 x 32,9 cm. Purchased in 1959. |
Triumphal arch celebrating the silver wedding anniversary of Jan Albert Sichterman and Sibilla Volkera Sadelijn & The four seasons: Spring
| Left: C. Koster, ‘Triumphal arch celebrating the silver wedding anniversary of Jan Albert Sichterman and Sibilla Volkera Sadelijn’, 1746. Paper cutting, 31 x 36,5 cm. Purchased in 2010, supported by the BankGiro Loterij and the J.B. Scholten foundation. | Right: Adriaen van de Venne (Delft 1689 – 1662 The Hague), ‘The four seasons: Spring’, 1624. Pen and pensil on paper, grey wash, ⌀ 12 cm. Collection Hofstede de Groot, long-term loan municipality of Groningen since 1931. |
Jan Albert Sichterman and his two sons Jan Albert and Gerrit Jan & Hare on a rock
| Left: Philip van Dijk (Oud Beijerland 1683-1753 The Hague), 'Jan Albert Sichterman and his two sons Jan Albert and Gerrit Jan', 1745. Oil on canvas, 148,5 x 117 cm. Purchased in 1992, supported by the Commissie Spijsuitdeling, J.B. Scholtenfonds foundation and also the Rembrandt Association, made possible by the Prins Bernhard Culture Fund. | Right: Unknown artist , 'Hare on a rock', 1715-1730. Porcelain, 21,5 x 14,5 x 14 cm. Purchased in 1931. |
On the way home & Composition with black oval
| Left: Siert Dallinga (Groningen 1954), 'On the way home', 1988. Oil paint on canvas, 120 x 90 cm. Purchased in 2016. | Right: Piet Ouborg (Dordrecht 1893 - 1956 Den Haag), 'Composition with black oval', 1947. Oil paint on canvas, 51 x 41 cm. Donation W. Jos de Gruter, 1955 |
Outfit & Lariam ll
| Left: Hussein Chalayan (Nicosia 1970), 'Outfit', collection 'Panoramic' autumn/winter 1998. Knitted stockinet and wood. Purchased in 2005, with support of the Mondriaan Fund and Friends of the Groninger Museum. | Right: Erik van Lieshout (Deurne 1968), 'Lariam II', 2001. Pen and felt tip, 210 x 149 cm. Donated by the artist 2002. |
Oceanic & Naga
| Left: Michele de Lucchi (Ferrara 1951), 'Oceanic', 1982. Laminated wood, varnished metal, 74 x 12 x 92 cm. Purchased in 2004. | Right: Naga 14th century, Thailand (Siam), Sawankhalok. Stoneware, h. 53,5 cm. Purchased in 1979. |
Flowers & Green Landscape Dress
| Left: Andy Warhol (Pittsburgh 1928 - 1987 New York), 'Flowers', 1970. 1 from a series of 10 screenprints, ink on paper, 91,5 x 97,5 cm. Purchased in 1999, with support of M.K. Castelein and G.E. Castelein-Buiskool | Right: Marga Weimans (Rotterdam 1970), 'Green Landscape Dress', collection 'Wonderland', spring/summer 2009. Polyurethane and plastic. Purchased in 2009, with support of the Mondriaan Fund |
Dr. Bonn & From the Sky
| Left: Sigmar Polke (Oels 1941 - Keulen 2010), Untitled (Dr.Bonn), 1978. Caseïne paint on wool, 130 x 130,5 cm. Purchased in 1980. | Right: Pieke Bergmans (Sprang Capelle 1978), 'From the Sky', 2010. Installation of glass, electronical parts, wood and linoleum. Purchased in 2010. |
Clara & A Boy
| Left: Anuschka Blommers (Purmerend 1969) & Niels Schumm (Naarden 1969), 'Clara' (Class of 1998), 1998 (print 2004). Colour photograph 59,5 x 47 cm. Purchased with support of the Mondriaan Funds | Right: Michael Sweerts (Brussel 1618-1664 Goa), 'A Boy', ca. 1655-61. Oil on canvas, 24,5 x 18 cm. Collection Hofstede de Groot, long-term loan of the Municipality of Groningen since 1931. |
Walter Dahn & Larry Clark
| Left: Walter Dahn (Krefeld 1954), 'Einen Staubsauger fressen', 1982 (Eating a vacuum cleaner). Acrylate paint on canvas, 200 x 150 cm. Purchased in 1982 | Right: Larry Clark (Tulsa 1943), 'Tulsa', 1963. Black and white photograph, 31,5 x 20,5 cm. Purchased in 1998. |
Beetke, Jade & Victoria
| Left: Unknown artist, 'Beetke of Rasquert', ca. 1525. Oil on Panel, 42.5 x 51.5 cm. Purchased in 1994 with support from Foundation het Roode Weeshuis, municipality of Groningen and Foundation J.B. Scholten Fund. | Right: Inez and Vinoodh (Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, Amsterdam 1961, Amsterdam 1963), 'Jade and Victoria', 1996. C-print on plexiglass, 190 x 151 cm. Purchased in 1997 with the support of the Mondriaan Fund. |