Schilder Nicolaas Bastert in zijn atelier in Nieuwersluis Possibly 1903 - 1946

Sigmund Löw made this photo of painter Nicolaas Bastert in his studio in Nieuwersluis, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. What strikes me is the layering of images, the paintings within the painting. It’s like a hall of mirrors reflecting the creative process itself. Look at the painting on the easel – a landscape of water and trees, rendered in soft, muted tones. The brushstrokes seem gentle, almost caressing the canvas. It gives me a sense of tranquility, a quiet observation of nature. And then there’s Bastert himself, seated in his studio, surrounded by his work. The room is cluttered but feels lived in. It makes me wonder what conversations he’s having with the landscape he’s painting. What is he trying to capture? It all reminds me a little bit of Courbet and his own studio scenes. Artists depicting artists always invites you to think about how art is made and why. It invites us to see the artist at work, as well as the work itself.