About ‘Lonely in Amsterdam – Apollo van Rijn’ by Robert Jan Smit
Amsterdam is bustling, vibrant and dynamic. Yet every city has its moments of stillness. In *Lonely in Amsterdam*, Apollo van Rijn reveals precisely that tranquil side. A cat, dressed in seventeenth-century fashion, sits silently at a table by the window. Before her stands a bowl of fruit, but her attention wanders to the canal outside.…
Amsterdam is bustling, vibrant and dynamic. Yet every city has its moments of stillness. In *Lonely in Amsterdam*, Apollo van Rijn reveals precisely that tranquil side. A cat, dressed in seventeenth-century fashion, sits silently at a table by the window. Before her stands a bowl of fruit, but her attention wanders to the canal outside. Evening is slowly falling over the city and the last rays of light are reflected on the water.
The painting tells a story not only of a place, but above all of a feeling. In the midst of a world full of people, a moment of loneliness can arise unexpectedly. The warm tones of the interior form a sharp contrast with the cool twilight outside. It is precisely this interplay of light and dark that evokes memories of the great Dutch masters, whilst the tranquil composition invites the viewer to fill in the story behind Pluisje’s gaze for themselves. No other name could have been chosen for her, given her coat. Is she waiting for a friend? Is he reminiscing about better times? Or is she simply enjoying the tranquillity that the evening brings? The painting offers no answer, leaving room for the viewer’s own imagination.
‘Lonely in Amsterdam’ is a work that continually reveals new details. It combines a historical atmosphere with a timeless sense of longing, tranquillity and contemplation. A remarkable work of art for lovers of Amsterdam, classical painting and stories that are not told, but felt.
Photography has been my passion since 1975. Whereas in the past I often photographed people, I now mainly focus on photographing landscapes, nature and animals.