Badhokjes (Noordwijk) c. 1975 - 1980

Editor: This is "Badhokjes (Noordwijk)," a drawing in ink on paper by Rein Dool, created sometime between 1975 and 1980. The geometric shapes, which I think represent bathhouses on a beach, appear stark and functional. How do you interpret the cultural context of this image? Curator: Dool’s choice of subject matter and style reflects a broader cultural shift. These bathhouses aren’t just structures; they’re a commentary on post-war Dutch society and its evolving relationship with leisure and the landscape. Consider the period: reconstruction, social changes... This simple sketch captures the increasing commodification of the coastal experience and the standardization of holiday amenities. Do you think Dool is celebrating or critiquing that change? Editor: I hadn't thought about it as critique, but I see what you mean. The starkness, the almost industrial feel, doesn’t scream idyllic beach vacation. The seemingly quick execution, like a snapshot of a fleeting moment in time, underscores your point. Was modernism often used to portray the changing landscape like this? Curator: Precisely. Modernism, especially in the post-war era, frequently grappled with urbanization and industrial encroachment on natural environments. Dool uses a seemingly straightforward landscape to prompt the viewer to reflect on this transformation and the evolving role of the artist in capturing, even commenting, on contemporary socio-political developments. Think of the politics of imagery at play – who are these beaches for, who controls the narrative? Editor: So, what seems like a simple sketch of beach huts opens up into a much larger conversation about societal shifts and the role of art within it. Curator: Absolutely. It makes you think about who shapes our perception of public space and what the artist's position in documenting these transitions really is. Thanks, that's given me a fresh perspective too!