The Singer Museum in Laren (Oude Drift 1, 1251 BS Laren, The Netherlands) tries to trace the influences that fine arts, like painting and drawing, have had on cartoonists and cartoon artists in the past and continue to have on the present day. Even though that influence is clear, there are also very obvious differences. A self portrait will seldom laugh out broadly, whereas cartoonists often are not hindered by a lack of irony and self-depreciation.
The exhibition “Strip En Kunst” (Comics And Art) focuses on modern art from the Netherlands and Belgium, and shows work by Maaike Hartjes, Corneille, Jan Kruis, Rob Scholte, Peter Pontiac, Karel Appel, Erik Kriek, Peter Klashorst, Barbara Stok, Lucebert, Willy Vandersteen, Jan Mankes, Don Lawrence, Lamelos, Wouter van Riessen, Windig & De Jong, Jan Sluijters, Ilah, Ronald Ophuis, Flo, Dick Ket, Hanco Kolk, Constant, Simon Spruyt, Elly Strik, Gerard Leever, Jan Wiegers, Luc Morjaeu, James Ensor, Paul Bodoni, Charley Toorop, Gerrit De Jager, Herman Berserik, Guido van Driel and others (if you are able to separate the cartoonists from the fine artists in this list, then this show is for you).
On March 24th collectors will have an opportunity to have their original art valued by specialists at the museum. Dutch publisher d’Jonge Hond has published a monograph by Gert Jan Pos and Mourice Plusquin by way of a catalogue to the exhibition. The full colour book contains work by Maaike Hartjes, Corneille, Jan Kruis, Rob Scholten, Peter Pontiac, Karel Apel, Erik Kriek, Peter Klashorst, Barbara Stok, Lucebert, Willy Vandersteen, Jan Mankes, Don Lawrence, Pyke Koch, Lamelos, Wouter van Riessen and many others. You can read more about it (in Dutch) here. The exhibition is open daily from 11am to 5pm, except on Mondays and the entrance fee is € 11; more details can be found on the website.
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