Het slachthuis 1880 - 1900

Willem Bastiaan Tholen painted this scene of a slaughterhouse with oil on canvas. Not a typical subject for fine art, is it? Tholen used broad brushstrokes and a muted palette to capture the stark reality of this industrial space. The carcasses hanging from the ceiling, rendered with thick paint, possess a fleshy, almost sculptural quality. Notice how the light reflects off the wet floor, achieved through layers of translucent glazes. Tholen's choice of subject matter is significant. Slaughterhouses represent the endpoint of a complex system of labor and consumption. By depicting this scene, Tholen invites us to consider the often-unseen processes that sustain our way of life. Ultimately, this painting reminds us that art can be found in the most unexpected places, challenging our assumptions about what is beautiful and worthy of representation. It encourages us to look beyond the surface and consider the social and economic forces that shape our world.