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Lot Essay
The present lot, 'Interieur met lezende jongen', was executed in 1911 and makes part of a symbolist phase in the artist's small oeuvre, which lasted from 1910 to 1913. After being introduced to the work of Matthijs Maris and most probably the symbolist work of Piet Mondriaan, Mankes' paintings gain even more hazy softness in tone, with fading backgrounds and a slight loss of perspective.
His elaborate working method would contribute to this effect. Each thinly applied paintlayer was carefully rubbed in the canvas, after which the remnants were scoured off with pumice and a new paintlayer was applied, which would partially be removed again.
In 'Interieur met lezende jongen' we recognize the haziness of Matthijs Maris and above all a clear influence in subject and composition by Johannes Vermeer. On the table we find three objects; a jug, a ginger jar and a book, probably sent to Mankes by his Maecenas A.A.M. Pauwels, who would supply him with all the material he would need.
The boy at the table is reading a book. J.F.A. de Lange suggests that because of the mysterious light surrounding the book, it must be of importance to the painter. There are two books Mankes read in 1911 which can be considered: Thomas a Kempis'De imitatione Christi and the New Testament. Depicting either of these books would add to the symbolist meaning of the painting. Mankes found in Thomas a Kempis' writings the beauty, truth and simplicity he strived after in his own work.(op.cit. J.F.A. Lange,'Hollands meest verstilde schilder', in: Jan Mankes, schilderijen, tekeningen en grafiek, Utrecht 1989).
His elaborate working method would contribute to this effect. Each thinly applied paintlayer was carefully rubbed in the canvas, after which the remnants were scoured off with pumice and a new paintlayer was applied, which would partially be removed again.
In 'Interieur met lezende jongen' we recognize the haziness of Matthijs Maris and above all a clear influence in subject and composition by Johannes Vermeer. On the table we find three objects; a jug, a ginger jar and a book, probably sent to Mankes by his Maecenas A.A.M. Pauwels, who would supply him with all the material he would need.
The boy at the table is reading a book. J.F.A. de Lange suggests that because of the mysterious light surrounding the book, it must be of importance to the painter. There are two books Mankes read in 1911 which can be considered: Thomas a Kempis'De imitatione Christi and the New Testament. Depicting either of these books would add to the symbolist meaning of the painting. Mankes found in Thomas a Kempis' writings the beauty, truth and simplicity he strived after in his own work.(op.cit. J.F.A. Lange,'Hollands meest verstilde schilder', in: Jan Mankes, schilderijen, tekeningen en grafiek, Utrecht 1989).