I recently returned from a week visit to Amsterdam. Though it was a business trip, I had the pleasure and privilege to spend time with Amsterdam-based friends, Gil Agnew and Rene Boitelle. Both are an inspiration in their accomplishments and outlook on life.
Gil is the Managing Partner for New Innergy (www.newinnergy.com) and is hosting a series of personal growth and thought leadership salons in Amsterdam for like-minded community and business leaders.
Rene is a Painting Conservator at the Van Gogh Museum and graciously provided us tours of the work of Vincent and his contemporaries who were painters of the same era in his community.
This week in Amsterdam, Rene provided a tour of the Gauguin exhibition at the Van Gogh museum. Gauguin and others marked the beginning of the era of modern art starting with an exhibition at the Paris World’s fair in 1889. There was also an exhibit he recommended at the Hermitage Amsterdam showing work of the early 1900’s by the group of artists known as “The Fauves” including Matisse, Picasso, Derain, Kandinsky and Van Dongen amassed by Russian collectors in the early 1900’s. These two different exhibitions of similar transitional eras in modern art in the same city were tremendously inspirational and exhilarating. These artists’ work have provided tremendous inspiration to my artwork and it was an indescribable treat to see these exhibitions.
The artistic aspects of the trip were enhanced by lovely dinners parties enjoying friends and the city!