Dutch artists and thinkers — illustrated portraits within the Ministry of Justice and Security.
Within the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security in The Hague meeting rooms are named after Dutch artists and thinkers.
Each of these 14 meeting rooms are now provided with illustrated portraits reflected on what made them stand out, how their work moved our science, art, philosophy or social environment forward throughout history.
The collection of illustrations contain portraits of Piet Mondriaan, Gerrit Rietveld, Desiderius Erasmus, Joost van den Vondel, Rembrandt van Rijn, Vincent van Gogh, Judith Leyster, Charlotte van Pallandt, Pierre Cuypers, Willem Dudok, Jacob van Campen, Louis Couperus and Frans Hals.
Piet Mondriaan
Piet Mondrian was a Dutch painter and theoretician who is regarded as one of the pioneers of 20th-century abstract art.
He is best known for his use of geometric shapes and primary colors in his paintings, which were influenced by his involvement in the De Stijl art movement.
Judith Leyster was a Dutch Baroque painter who was active in the 17th century. She is known for her genre scenes, which typically depict everyday life and activities, as well as her portraits and still lifes.
Leyster was one of the few female artists to achieve recognition during this time period and is considered an important figure in the history of Dutch painting, though some of her paintings were initially appointed to male artists such as Frans Hals.
Judith Leyster
Joost van den Vondel
Joost van den Vondel was a Dutch poet, playwright, and writer who is considered one of the leading figures of Dutch literature.
He is best known for his epic poems and plays, which were written in the 17th century and often dealt with themes of love, religion, and politics.
Rembrandt van Rijn was a Dutch artist known for his paintings, drawings, and etchings.
He was not only a talented artist, but also an astute collector and art trader. He owned a large collection of artwork and antiques, and is known to have sold some of his own works as well as those of other artists in order to finance his personal expenses and artistic endeavors.
Rembrandt van Rijn
Willem Dudok
Willem Dudok was a Dutch architect who worked in the modernist style and is known for his innovative and functional designs.
He is particularly renowned for designing the Hilversum Town Hall, which is widely regarded as a masterpiece of modernist architecture and has been recognized as a National Monument in the Netherlands.
Charlotte van Pallandt was a Dutch sculptor who was active in the 20th century. She was mostly known for her portraits, which are mostly busts.
In her portraits she captured the character of her subjects, more than a literal translation of their appearances. She received widespread recognition for her sculptures and received numerous awards throughout her career.
Charlotte van Pallandt
Jacob van Campen was a Dutch architect who was active in the 17th century. He is best known for his contributions to the Dutch Golden Age of architecture, during which he designed a number of notable buildings, including the Mauritshuis in The Hague and the Royal Palace of Amsterdam.
Van Campen is considered one of the leading architects of the Dutch Baroque style
Jacob van Campen
Louis Couperus
Louis Couperus was a Dutch novelist and poet who was active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is considered one of the most important figures in Dutch literature and is best known for his psychological and symbolic novels, which often explored themes of identity, sexuality, and the human psyche.
Couperus was also a prolific writer of poetry and non-fiction, and his works have been translated into numerous languages.
Gerrit Rietveld was a Dutch architect and furniture designer who was a leading figure in the De Stijl art movement. He is best known for his pioneering use of geometric shapes and primary colors in his designs, which influenced the development of modern architecture and design.
Rietveld is particularly famous for his Red and Blue Chair, which is considered a masterpiece of modern design.
Gerrit Rietveld
Desiderius Erasmus
Desiderius Erasmus was a Dutch Renaissance humanist, theologian, and classical scholar who was one of the most influential figures of the early modern period. He was a leading figure in the northern Renaissance and a pioneer of critical thinking and textual criticism.
Erasmus was best known for his Greek and Latin translations of the New Testament, which helped to spread the ideas of the Reformation and had a profound impact on the development of modern theology and philosophy.
Pierre Cuypers was a Dutch architect who was active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is best known for his contributions to the Dutch Neo-Gothic style of architecture and is considered one of the leading architects of this period.
Cuypers is famous for his design of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, which is considered one of the most important museums in the Netherlands, as well as for his work on the Central Station in Rotterdam and the Paleis voor Volksvlijt in Amsterdam.
Pierre Cuypers
Baruch Spinoza
Spinoza was a philosopher in the 17th century. He is considered one of the major figures of the Enlightenment and is renowned for his defence of the power of reason and his rejection of traditional religious beliefs.
He was also a pioneering thinker in the development of the concept of monism: the idea that all reality is ultimately one substance. Spinoza's work has had a lasting influence on philosophy and continues to be studied and debated by scholars today.
Frans Hals was a painter in the 17th century who is best known for his portraits and genre scenes.
His lively and expressive brushwork, as well as his ability to capture the individuality and personality of his subjects, made him one of the most influential portraitists of his time.
Frans Hals
Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist painter who is renowned for his expressive brushwork and vibrant use of color.
Despite his short career and lack of recognition during his lifetime, his innovative techniques and emotional expressiveness have made him one of the most beloved and influential artists in the history of Western art.
