Aaltje Brouwer 2024
Acrylic on Canvas
30 x 40 inches (76.2 x 101.6 cm)
Aaltje Brouwer was born in 1821 in Leeuwarden, a city in the North of Holland, a province of the Netherlands. Life was difficult at a young age. Her mother died when she was eleven, while her father served multiple sentences for vagrancy having her fend for herself. Aaltje was found guilty of vagrancy herself at least nine times between 1843 and 1890 and sent to beggar colonies as punishment. What it meant to be convicted of vagrancy was not clear. The court decided who was a vagrant without set rules. After serving each sentence, Aaltje returned to her hometown in Leeuwarden. Her life was dominated by sentences in beggar colonies and she passed away being a resident in a penal colony in 1893. She never married.
Aaltje's life was somewhat typical of other women convicted of vagrancy in the 19th-century Netherlands. Vagrant women tended to live in urban areas. Many of them had weak social networks and did not have the possibility of living with family.
"Aaltje’s story is one of survival and endurance. This painting is an ode to her and all who had and still have to fight adversity."
Zeeuws Meisje 2024
Acrylic on Tiles
40 x 24 inches (101.6 x 60.96 cm)
Zeeuws Meisje ('Girl from Zeeland') was a traditional farmer’s daughter in the 1800s and later the face of one of the oldest margarine brands in the world. She became a brand. But why?
There is more to Zeeuws Meisje. A Zeeuw is someone from Zeeland, a province in the southwest of the Netherlands. Zeelanders are known by the other Dutch provinces as rechtdoorzee. The translation is straight through the sea, meaning straightforward outspoken people with some additional traits like stubborn, endearing, steadfast, loyal, and proud.
This research made me realize that those traits are not just Zeelander traits. Zeelanders might be the mirror reflection of the rest of the Dutch population. They are characteristic of every Dutch person I know. Zeeuws Meisje is not just a brand, but a Dutch icon.
In this painting, you see het Zeeuws Meisje pushing her face onto the plane of Delfts Blue tiles that represent Dutch heritage. She is leaning into her roots inside the tiles, listening, and learning.
Origin 2024
Sculpture
Mixed Media
x inches
Je Maintiendrai 2024
Acrylic on Canvas
72 x 120 inches (182.88 x 304.80 cm)
15 Pieces 24 x 24 inches (60.96 x 60.96 cm)
‘Je Maintiendrai’ (I will maintain) has been the motto of the House of Orange-Nassau since the time of William of Orange. He adopted the coat of arms of his cousin René de Chalon.
In a letter of January 1565, Prince William of Orange explained the significance of the motto:
‘Je maintiendrai la vertu et noblesse. (I will maintain virtue and nobility.)
Je maintiendrai de mon nom la haultesse. (I will maintain the prestige of my name.)
Je maintiendrai l’honneur, la foy, la loy (I will maintain the honour, the faith and the law.)
de Dieu, du Roy, de mes amys et moy.’ (Of God and the King, of my friends and of myself.)
In this artwork, Nina use the North Sea and the female swimmer as a metaphor for the emancipation and equality that generations of Dutch women fought for. With strength, they kept their head above water and created a society that advocates equal rights for women and girls.
“I realized that my fighting spirit during life's hardship originated from this unconscious strength to “ Maintain” passed on by generations of women before me.”
The modern Delfts Blue Tiles patterns overlaying the work are “the veil of heritage” behind which life happens.
This collection explores the development and role of cultural heritage on an individual. With these artworks, Nina studies the history of her roots and its influence on her way of life, passed down generations through practices, beliefs, traditions, and art.
When you come to understand more about yourself and your culture, you'll learn how to relate better to individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Cultural awareness can help break down cultural barriers and build bridges. Nina invites all artist to join her by tagging their heritage work with #ofwhichiam.