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Harmonies of Art

Masterpieces and Reflections

75 years ago, The Curaçao Museum opened its doors with the purpose of, among other things, “The keeping of a museum of works of art and artistic objects of culture and natural history in the narrower sense, especially that which relates to the past of the former Netherlands Antilles.”

Fast forward to 2023, and you will find that we have amassed an extensive and impressive collection of works of art by well-known international Dutch and Curaçaoan artists. We have progressively shifted our focus towards the conservation and promotion of art in all its forms. This includes supporting established and emerging artists, organizing regular art exhibitions. However, we noticed that our own collection of historically valuable artworks was not well-known. This led us to contemplate how we could bring our art collection to your attention in an interesting and exciting way.

The exhibition “Harmonies of Art” is the result of that question. Talented artists have combined two art forms to inspire, inform, and capture your attention. We invite you not only to observe but also to participate and immerse yourself in the “Harmonies of Art” while getting acquainted with our art collection.

Curaçaoans have always been highly creative, and this exhibition serves as proof of our artistic capabilities. To further stimulate our creative side, it is crucial that we support our designers and artists more. This begins by exposing our minds to the various art forms, such as painting, sculpture, literature, architecture, theater, film, and music.

We can confidently state that The Curaçao Museum has contributed to the support and exposure of different art forms over the past 75 years and will continue to do so in the years to come.

Here’s to Harmony, not only in Art but in life in general!

Judaline Cyntje
Manager
The Curaçao Museum

Curaçaoan masters, various artists:
Nepomuceno (1908-1975), Ocalia (1916-1984), Olario (1891-1977), Miss Lee Hodge (1899-1998)

Contemporary narrative by Pharao

Charles Eyck (1897-1983)
Working class panel, 1953

*This artwork has no audio.

Jan Wiegers (1893-1959)
Scenery Ticino, c. 1948

Contemporary narrative by Vesuhely Americaan

Charley Toorop (1891-1955)
Blacks in Rotterdam, c. 1925

*This is the original title of the artwork

Contemporary narrative by Johnny Bonaire

Jan Sluijters Sr. (1881-1957)
Nude, c. 1913

Contemporary narrative by Zoinx

Isaac Israëls (1865-1934)
Vagrants along the canal, c. 1895

Contemporary narrative by Jeannine Quesor (click to open)

Vagrants along the canal

A quick encounter by strangers passing by in the streets
“Who is this?”, the little girl asks
as their looks briefly meet

A vagrant society calls him,
a man without a settled work nor a home,
living by begging, wandering from one place to another one

What will this mother reply to her child?
What does she see in this man passing by?
A danger to her safety or a soul in dispair?

And what about you?

Which preconceived notions accompany your perception?
What do you see in strangers passing by in the streets?
Are you able to see them free of judgment and prejudice?