Second Portrait Mathilde

Mathilde Willink – de Doelder

Second Portrait Mathilde

After the studies in watercolors and the double portrait, Mathilde Willink’s second portrait is now ready. See for these images my blog.

Mathilde Willink’s 2nd portrait I made specially for the Mathilde day 7-7-2018 in Terneuzen, as well as the double portrait. The technique is: Acrylic on Belgian linen, 120×60 cm. It may be that I will add something, but I do not know yet. I painted her as I remembered her when I encountered her in the PC Hooftstraat in Amsterdam, stifled with Carel Willink. She looked happy. Willink, as she called him, I left out because it’s all about her now. She had her hair loose and wore a blue dress. I think it was before Fong Leng’s time. The promotion of Carel Willink with his paintings and life, I would like to leave to his fourth wife and widow, Sylvia Quiël.

One can bid on the painting.

Source of Inspiration

The more I study Mathilde, the more I get inspired by her. The Netherlands has brought very special women. Also think of Margarethe Zelle (Mata Hari). But even further back in history, I think of Belle van Zuylen and Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaer. These are just a few names. It was and is, although today it has much improved, difficult to write as a woman history in a man-dominated society . Almost all have led a powerful life and in some cases they have come to an end very tragically.

After death

It is also a fact that in the Netherlands, often the most striking, colorful, pronounced and talented people, only after death, receive the glory that belongs to them. Then they are suddenly pushed proudly in the front piece and one is proud of them. Usually only after decades. Mathilde in Terneuzen, Alma Tadema in Leeuwarden and probably also the same is the matter for Margaretha Zelle (Mata Hari).

Fortunately, Alma Tadema while living in London had the appreciation he deserved during his life. He was even elevated there in nobility by virtue of his merits as a very versatile artist, becoming Sir Lauwence Alma Tadema.

In Mathilde we can only try to portray her in the beautiful way. I think that she will enjoy that most. She loved attention, fashion, extravagance, decadence and eccentricity. The art is to express this in the paintings or other artefacts so that everyone can enjoy it again.

Facebook

On Facebook, I received someone’s call to have the courage to portray her as she would have looked now at it at the age of 79. I turned that request down. A. Because she has been dead for almost 40 years and I do not know how she would look like now at this moment. That is impossible. The person in question did not agree with my point of view and accused me of lack of courage. I think it has nothing to do with lacking in courage, but everything with respect for a woman who left her traces until now, and still inspires contemporary pop stars and other celebrities to copy her. Hence, I do my best to portray her in a way that pleases me.

Songs

Marjol Flore has sung a beautiful song about her. This is on YouTube, with a beautiful movie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk1EogKUZTs

Also Ramses Shaffy has composed and sang a song on her. She was already a phenomenon during her life.

Now I’m going to start the third portrait. Actually I already started. When done, I’ll come back in the picture.

Of course, here’s another new link to an interesting article about Mathilde. https://www.modemuze.nl/blog/mathilde-willink-fong-leng