The New Generation (1892)
Technique: Giclée quality print
Recommended by our customers
More about this artwork
, an intriguing piece created in 1892, exemplifies the artist’s engagement with Symbolism, a movement that expresses ideas and emotions through symbolic figures and compelling color palettes. The painting invites viewers into a lush, almost otherworldly landscape, which serves as a backdrop for the depiction of life's continual renewal and the complex interaction between humans and nature.The composition centers around a child reading a book, a symbol of the new generation, intellectual growth, and the transmission of knowledge and values. This scene is nestled within an intricate environment marked by vibrant, wavelike patterns in the foliage and distorted, dreamlike trees that stretch and twist dramatically. These elements might suggest the fluidity and dynamism of life, reflecting nature’s constantly changing state.To the left, a door stands slightly ajar, with faces peering through, hinting at the unseen forces and generations that watch over the young, and perhaps symbolizing heritage and memory. This gateway might suggest the threshold between the known and the mysterious, the past and the future.Rich in texture and detail, Toorop’s palette of deep greens, reds, and blues intensifies the mystical and enigmatic quality of the painting. Each leaf, root, and branch is rendered with meticulous care, weaving a dense tapestry of life in which every element is interconnected."The New Generation" by Jan Toorop is a fascinating exploration of growth, legacy, and the complex layers of human existence, conveyed through a symbolic landscape that challenges the viewers to delve deeper into its meanings.
Delivery
Returns
Jan Toorop (1858–1928) was a 19-century Dutch-Javanese painter who extensively experimented with different artistic styles ranging from Realism, Impressionism, Symbolism and Art Nouveau to Pointillism. He was famous for using highly stylized slim figures and dynamic lines that were influenced by Indonesian motifs and curvilinear lines. His most famous poster artwork “Delft Salad Oil”, commissioned by The Dutch Oil Company, became so iconic that the Dutch Art Nouveau painting style is given the nickname "the salad oil style". Despite the fact that Toorop's expertise was in producing designs for marketing and advertisements, he also produced a number of fine art pieces that dealt with darker subjects including the human physche and emotions.