Description:

Met Jan van Eyck op bezoek bij de familie Arnolfini (1974-76)
Signed and dated 74-76 upper centre
Acrylic on canvas, 190.6 x 170.6 cm
Provenance:
Private collection, the Netherlands, acquired directly from the artist, 1978
Exhibited:
- Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 13 January - 26 February 1978
- Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht, 29 April - 28 May 1978|
Literature:
Exhibition catalogue: Pierre van Soest: met Jan van Eyck op bezoek bij de familie Arnolfini, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam & Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht, Stadsdrukkerij, Amsterdam, 1978
Note:
This work by Pierre van Soest draws inspiration from Jan van Eyck’s 'Arnolfini Portrait' (1434), a famous masterpiece of the Northern Renaissance celebrated for its stunning detail, oil painting techniques and layered symbolism. The original painting portrays Giovanni Arnolfini, a wealthy Italian merchant, and his wife in a domestic scene rich with symbolic objects that reference themes like wealth, marital fidelity and faith. Central to the composition is a small convex mirror on the back wall, which reflects the scene in reverse and reveals two additional figures, one likely being Van Eyck himself. Encircled by medallions depicting the Passion of Christ, the mirror holds profound symbolic weight, alluding to all-seeing divine presence while showcasing Van Eyck’s mastery of perspective and light.

In the 1970s, Dutch artist Pierre van Soest reinterpreted this iconic work in a series of 16 acrylic paintings, exhibited in 1978 at the Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam under the title Met Jan van Eyck op bezoek bij de familie Arnolfini. Van Soest’s series offers a contemporary twist on the original. In this painting we see the focus on the convex mirror. Through bold abstraction and vibrant colours, Van Soest recontextualises the mirror as a reflection not just of the depicted scene, but of broader questions about observation, identity and the role of art across time. His reinterpretation invites viewers to explore how historical works can inspire fresh perspectives while preserving their lasting impact.

* Condition report available upon request

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