ArtPlay's inspirations

The ArtPlay Pavilion is inspired by paintings from the Gallery’s Collection, with four zones echoing the elemental forces of Earth, Sunlight, Water, and Wind:

This space is all about getting close to the ground—literally.

Inspired by the twisted tree roots and split oaks in paintings like Jan van Kessel’s A Wood near The Hague, this central space brings together textures from nature and the Sculpture Garden.

You’ll find soft, root-like forms and earthy colours—mocha, rust, dusky pink—nestled around a central seating pit.

This space is all about warmth, glow, and the magic of light.

It’s inspired by paintings that show sunlight in different moods—Arent de Gelder’s Jacob’s Dream, where rays of light stream down from above, Nicolas Poussin’s glowing clouds, and Rembrandt’s Girl at a Window, leaning gently into the light from the shadows.

We’ve brought that feeling into the pavilion with soft, shiny textures, copper pots filled with loose parts that catch the light, and dress-up pieces like sun capes and headdresses.

It’s a space to soak up the sunshine—real or imagined—and play in its glow.

ArtPlay channels the gushing energy of Jacob van Ruisdael’s A Waterfall, where torrents surge with drama and motion.

It echoes the bridges suspended over tranquil rivers in Adam Pynacker’s Italian landscapes—inviting a sense of passage and reflection. And it draws from the woodgrain-like ripples in Aelbert Cuyp’s river scenes, where water becomes texture, rhythm, and light.

These visual cues inform every detail: from the cool-toned fabrics and undulating surfaces to the flowing layout that invites calm exploration and sensory engagement. Water here is not just seen, it’s felt.

This space is all about movement and air—the kind you feel in your hair or see in the trees.

It’s inspired by paintings that capture wind in action: trees bending and clothes whipping in Gaspard Dughet’s stormy landscapes, the puffed-up sails in Willem van de Velde’s seascapes, and the steady spin of windmills in Jacob van Ruisdael’s countryside scenes.

We’ve brought that energy into the pavilion with a soft, cloud-like swing for gentle rocking, and spinning windmills that make sound and texture part of the play. It’s a place to move, pause, and feel the breeze!