Robbert Leusink
@robbertleusink.bsky.social
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Museum culture separated art from life. The Romantic artist-genius myth erased the craft tradition that had made classic paintings possible.
The art market turned paintings into commodities whose value derived from scarcity and canonical status.
The art market turned paintings into commodities whose value derived from scarcity and canonical status.
December 16, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Museum culture separated art from life. The Romantic artist-genius myth erased the craft tradition that had made classic paintings possible.
The art market turned paintings into commodities whose value derived from scarcity and canonical status.
The art market turned paintings into commodities whose value derived from scarcity and canonical status.
In 1850, Isaac de Leeuw sold pickled vegetables by handcart in Amsterdam.
174 years later, his descendants still serve pickles in the same spot.
De Leeuw Zuurwaren sells best pickles of the Netherlands!
Van Gogh, once their neighbour, wrote of their ruby cabbage.
174 years later, his descendants still serve pickles in the same spot.
De Leeuw Zuurwaren sells best pickles of the Netherlands!
Van Gogh, once their neighbour, wrote of their ruby cabbage.
December 16, 2025 at 5:58 PM
In 1850, Isaac de Leeuw sold pickled vegetables by handcart in Amsterdam.
174 years later, his descendants still serve pickles in the same spot.
De Leeuw Zuurwaren sells best pickles of the Netherlands!
Van Gogh, once their neighbour, wrote of their ruby cabbage.
174 years later, his descendants still serve pickles in the same spot.
De Leeuw Zuurwaren sells best pickles of the Netherlands!
Van Gogh, once their neighbour, wrote of their ruby cabbage.
Alfred Van Cleef was a Dutch diamond cutter who married Estelle Arpels: the daughter of a precious stone dealer in 1895.
Together they opened at 22 Place Vendôme in 1906... directly across from the Ritz Hotel.
118 years later, they're still there.
Together they opened at 22 Place Vendôme in 1906... directly across from the Ritz Hotel.
118 years later, they're still there.
December 16, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Alfred Van Cleef was a Dutch diamond cutter who married Estelle Arpels: the daughter of a precious stone dealer in 1895.
Together they opened at 22 Place Vendôme in 1906... directly across from the Ritz Hotel.
118 years later, they're still there.
Together they opened at 22 Place Vendôme in 1906... directly across from the Ritz Hotel.
118 years later, they're still there.
A skûtsje is a well-know Frisian variety of the tjalk. It was specifically made for the Frisian lakes: with better rounding, a greater length and smaller width.
December 16, 2025 at 1:03 PM
A skûtsje is a well-know Frisian variety of the tjalk. It was specifically made for the Frisian lakes: with better rounding, a greater length and smaller width.
The Tjalk is a flat-bottomed cargo ship, silent over shallow waters, powered by wind.
It moved grain, peat, beer, bricks, and built the Netherlands.
It moved grain, peat, beer, bricks, and built the Netherlands.
December 16, 2025 at 1:03 PM
The Tjalk is a flat-bottomed cargo ship, silent over shallow waters, powered by wind.
It moved grain, peat, beer, bricks, and built the Netherlands.
It moved grain, peat, beer, bricks, and built the Netherlands.
Cire Trudon has made candles since 1643.
Supplied Versailles throughout Louis XIV's reign. Napoleon's coronation. Every French monarch for 350 years.
Still makes them the same way in Normandy.
But Americans only know Diptyque and Le Labo—brands younger than their parents.
Supplied Versailles throughout Louis XIV's reign. Napoleon's coronation. Every French monarch for 350 years.
Still makes them the same way in Normandy.
But Americans only know Diptyque and Le Labo—brands younger than their parents.
December 16, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Cire Trudon has made candles since 1643.
Supplied Versailles throughout Louis XIV's reign. Napoleon's coronation. Every French monarch for 350 years.
Still makes them the same way in Normandy.
But Americans only know Diptyque and Le Labo—brands younger than their parents.
Supplied Versailles throughout Louis XIV's reign. Napoleon's coronation. Every French monarch for 350 years.
Still makes them the same way in Normandy.
But Americans only know Diptyque and Le Labo—brands younger than their parents.
The EU was never about cooperation.
It's about the dilution of currency, borders, and culture.
Dutchmen paying for Mediterranean failures.
It's about the dilution of currency, borders, and culture.
Dutchmen paying for Mediterranean failures.
December 16, 2025 at 12:56 AM
The EU was never about cooperation.
It's about the dilution of currency, borders, and culture.
Dutchmen paying for Mediterranean failures.
It's about the dilution of currency, borders, and culture.
Dutchmen paying for Mediterranean failures.
It's no the purist’s pick, nor the actual Moonwatch.
But it's versatile, tells the time, and was my first watch.
But it's versatile, tells the time, and was my first watch.
December 15, 2025 at 11:04 PM
It's no the purist’s pick, nor the actual Moonwatch.
But it's versatile, tells the time, and was my first watch.
But it's versatile, tells the time, and was my first watch.
I hate 40mm+ watches.
They're too chunky and show you lack taste.
A watch shouldn't attract too much attention.
That's why I like the @Omega Speedmaster Reduced so much...
They're too chunky and show you lack taste.
A watch shouldn't attract too much attention.
That's why I like the @Omega Speedmaster Reduced so much...
December 15, 2025 at 11:04 PM
I hate 40mm+ watches.
They're too chunky and show you lack taste.
A watch shouldn't attract too much attention.
That's why I like the @Omega Speedmaster Reduced so much...
They're too chunky and show you lack taste.
A watch shouldn't attract too much attention.
That's why I like the @Omega Speedmaster Reduced so much...
Made in Italy =/= quality product
December 15, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Made in Italy =/= quality product
I recently restored this Canon board, to be used for Mass.
A guy stored it on his dusty attic for years. I re-painted it, cleaned the glass and restored the print.
A guy stored it on his dusty attic for years. I re-painted it, cleaned the glass and restored the print.
December 15, 2025 at 4:58 PM
I recently restored this Canon board, to be used for Mass.
A guy stored it on his dusty attic for years. I re-painted it, cleaned the glass and restored the print.
A guy stored it on his dusty attic for years. I re-painted it, cleaned the glass and restored the print.
Vermeer is a master at depicting every day life (at his time) in the most perfect, mealymouthed settings.
You can almost enter the painting yourself, that's how much it sucks you into it.
You can almost enter the painting yourself, that's how much it sucks you into it.
December 15, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Vermeer is a master at depicting every day life (at his time) in the most perfect, mealymouthed settings.
You can almost enter the painting yourself, that's how much it sucks you into it.
You can almost enter the painting yourself, that's how much it sucks you into it.
Like many other painters in his time, he panted allegories. Like this one: it's a painter in his workshop.
December 15, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Like many other painters in his time, he panted allegories. Like this one: it's a painter in his workshop.
I also like the mystery around The Street / Het Straatje.
They think they discovered the location, but besides that, it's unknown why he made this painting.
But it's peak Dutch, which is why it's so great.
They think they discovered the location, but besides that, it's unknown why he made this painting.
But it's peak Dutch, which is why it's so great.
December 15, 2025 at 10:01 AM
I also like the mystery around The Street / Het Straatje.
They think they discovered the location, but besides that, it's unknown why he made this painting.
But it's peak Dutch, which is why it's so great.
They think they discovered the location, but besides that, it's unknown why he made this painting.
But it's peak Dutch, which is why it's so great.
What I like too, as most Vermeer fans do, is his sky's. They're so realistic and dramatic.
December 15, 2025 at 10:01 AM
What I like too, as most Vermeer fans do, is his sky's. They're so realistic and dramatic.
My favourite painting is 'A Girl Asleep' / Slapend Meisje.
The rich details of the Persian carpet, and the fact that it was a completely different painting first... with a man and a dog.
There's so much emotion and depth in this painting.
The rich details of the Persian carpet, and the fact that it was a completely different painting first... with a man and a dog.
There's so much emotion and depth in this painting.
December 15, 2025 at 10:01 AM
My favourite painting is 'A Girl Asleep' / Slapend Meisje.
The rich details of the Persian carpet, and the fact that it was a completely different painting first... with a man and a dog.
There's so much emotion and depth in this painting.
The rich details of the Persian carpet, and the fact that it was a completely different painting first... with a man and a dog.
There's so much emotion and depth in this painting.
On this day that painter Johannes Vermeer died. Now exactly 350 years ago.
Greatest painter
Greatest painter
December 15, 2025 at 10:01 AM
On this day that painter Johannes Vermeer died. Now exactly 350 years ago.
Greatest painter
Greatest painter
Bari, Puglia 🇮🇹 is a great city.
Made me think of Nice, but better.
Especially nice in December, when it's not that busy.
It has many great shops, hosts the Tomb of Saint Nicholas and parking is only €1/hour.
Made me think of Nice, but better.
Especially nice in December, when it's not that busy.
It has many great shops, hosts the Tomb of Saint Nicholas and parking is only €1/hour.
December 15, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Bari, Puglia 🇮🇹 is a great city.
Made me think of Nice, but better.
Especially nice in December, when it's not that busy.
It has many great shops, hosts the Tomb of Saint Nicholas and parking is only €1/hour.
Made me think of Nice, but better.
Especially nice in December, when it's not that busy.
It has many great shops, hosts the Tomb of Saint Nicholas and parking is only €1/hour.
Linen passe-partouts are really stylish
December 15, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Linen passe-partouts are really stylish
Painting: 'The Music Lesson'
(Johannes Vermeer, 1662–1665)
(Johannes Vermeer, 1662–1665)
December 14, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Painting: 'The Music Lesson'
(Johannes Vermeer, 1662–1665)
(Johannes Vermeer, 1662–1665)
What most non-Catholics fail to understand is that when a priest wears ornate vestments he becomes invisible.
Because that's the purpose: it's about how the office and liturgy glorifies God.
His personality doesn't matter. Only God does.
Because that's the purpose: it's about how the office and liturgy glorifies God.
His personality doesn't matter. Only God does.
December 14, 2025 at 7:04 PM
What most non-Catholics fail to understand is that when a priest wears ornate vestments he becomes invisible.
Because that's the purpose: it's about how the office and liturgy glorifies God.
His personality doesn't matter. Only God does.
Because that's the purpose: it's about how the office and liturgy glorifies God.
His personality doesn't matter. Only God does.
Museum culture separated art from life.
The Romantic artist-genius myth erased craft tradition.
The art market turned paintings into commodities.
The Romantic artist-genius myth erased craft tradition.
The art market turned paintings into commodities.
December 14, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Museum culture separated art from life.
The Romantic artist-genius myth erased craft tradition.
The art market turned paintings into commodities.
The Romantic artist-genius myth erased craft tradition.
The art market turned paintings into commodities.
The passegiata is an Italian custom for Sundays (and many other days)
After lunch; dinner, entire towns walk the same route.
There's no real purpose to the walk, other than socialising and being seen.
After lunch; dinner, entire towns walk the same route.
There's no real purpose to the walk, other than socialising and being seen.
December 14, 2025 at 4:59 PM
The passegiata is an Italian custom for Sundays (and many other days)
After lunch; dinner, entire towns walk the same route.
There's no real purpose to the walk, other than socialising and being seen.
After lunch; dinner, entire towns walk the same route.
There's no real purpose to the walk, other than socialising and being seen.
'Ertappte Ministranten beim Messweingenuss' (1868)
('Altar boys get caught drinking communion wine')
Painter: Claudius Schraudolph Jr.
('Altar boys get caught drinking communion wine')
Painter: Claudius Schraudolph Jr.
December 14, 2025 at 4:04 PM
'Ertappte Ministranten beim Messweingenuss' (1868)
('Altar boys get caught drinking communion wine')
Painter: Claudius Schraudolph Jr.
('Altar boys get caught drinking communion wine')
Painter: Claudius Schraudolph Jr.
Saint Francis of Assisi invented the nativity scene in 1223 at Greccio 🇮🇹
He set up a real manger with live animals and actors in a cave.
People could smell the hay and feel the cold.
It made the Incarnation physical, not just theological.
This tradition has been continued in Greccio ever since.
He set up a real manger with live animals and actors in a cave.
People could smell the hay and feel the cold.
It made the Incarnation physical, not just theological.
This tradition has been continued in Greccio ever since.
December 14, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Saint Francis of Assisi invented the nativity scene in 1223 at Greccio 🇮🇹
He set up a real manger with live animals and actors in a cave.
People could smell the hay and feel the cold.
It made the Incarnation physical, not just theological.
This tradition has been continued in Greccio ever since.
He set up a real manger with live animals and actors in a cave.
People could smell the hay and feel the cold.
It made the Incarnation physical, not just theological.
This tradition has been continued in Greccio ever since.