Day 23:

Today was all about art: 17th century Dutch Golden Age painting, to be precise, so in the morning Prof. Dewulf lectured on the rise of the merchant class and citizen as, among other things, the new market for painting, and how this and the Dutch culture and landscape came to characterize the art of the Golden Age. We headed off to the quiet town of Haarlem to get a better feel of the era, and after a short lunch in the cobblestone town square, see the Frans Halsmuseum. It was easy to appreciate the way the era's culture colored the exhibit. For example, there were several paintings featuring the Good Samaritan, but none of saints. There were paintings of regal people, ordinary people and peasants, and to a much lesser degree nudes, beautiful women and erotic tableaux. I also enjoyed admiring the painstaking work of the gallery's banquet piece artists, who would demonstrate their skill and patience in such subtle ostentations as fanciful knife handles, reflective tableware and luxurious drapery. Also of interest was how replete Dutch art is of symbolism, whether the memento mori of a snail on a leaf or the honorable display of a crest- and ribbon-adorned frame.'

In the afternoon we went to the Rijksmuseum, a surprisingly small musuem for being the country's most famous. Its collection sought to impress upon its guests a true sense of the Dutch Golden Age: its most famous attractions are Rembrandt's The Night Watch and other paintings by such names as de Hooch, Vermeer, and Jan Steen, although the museum displays weaponry, colonial acquisitions, luxury wares and other arts of the era. I appreciated most the chance to see the works of the aforementioned artists in person. De Hooch and Vermeer are personal favorites for their creative compositions and unique subject matters, and the chance to understand why Rembrandt is so famed was unforgettable. His work stands out when it's seen in person - his skill is hard to swallow.

I felt sick that night. My body must be feeling the first big dip from all these metro poles, dirty train seats and public phones. Nonetheless I couldn't pass up on the chance to find a new pub with new friends.