an intimate tribute to kees verwey in the smallest museum in haarlem

In honor of the 125th birthday of Kees Verwey (1900–1995), the Smallest Museum of Haarlem, in collaboration with our museum, an ode to Verwey in a personal mini-exhibition. In the window of no. 119 on the Gedempte Oude Gracht, Verwey's work and life come to life in a unique, small-scale way.

The exhibition shows personal objects that bring the artist closer, including a painting and his own painting equipment. There are also photos by Nico Koster, taken in 1976, in which he captured Verwey's studio. That legendary studio, or as Verwey himself called it: the 'treasure chamber' or 'my Himalaya', was the place where he painted countless impressions of cityscapes, landscapes, portraits and still lifes. His entire world took place within these walls. 'When I paint I am traveling, and when I paint at home I am also traveling', wrote Verwey to Godfried Bomans.

The studio was known for its unparalleled chaos: an organically grown collection of things, covered in dust and mold. Verwey agreed: 'It's a terrible mess, that can't be denied. But I get everything out of it. Look, if I didn't paint, I would find it a mess. But I haven't even started yet, and it's the most beautiful thing I see in the world.'  It was precisely this environment that inspired Verwey. In the seventies he made large paintings with his studio as subject, the so-called studio pieces, which are among the highlights of his oeuvre. These can now be seen in the exhibition Studio in pictures.

Smallest Museum of Haarlem
The Smallest Museum of Haarlem presents a unique collection of well-known and lesser-known works several times a year Haarlemmer(s). The museum is part of Art Center Haarlem, the art rental in the Kennemerland region with a collection of approximately 5000 works of art. The art center also has a shop and webshop with design. In addition to the art rental and a shop, Kunst Centrum presents Haarlem regularly holds exhibitions and organizes meetings with artists in its own gallery. Several photographs that Nico Koster took of Verwey's studio in 1976, which are on display in both the Kleinste Museum van Haarlem as in the exhibition Studio in pictures can be seen, borrowed and purchased at the Art Center Haarlem.

Curious? The expo can be viewed 24/7 from the sidewalk. Address: Gedempte Oude Gracht 119