Johannes Vermeer had the extraordinary gift to create calming and pleasing scenes.

The Little Street is part of the free audio tour of the Rijkmuseum in Amsterdam, available in the Amuze app (www.amuzeapp.com). You can try it out virtually from your home!

The Amuze app offers many more tours of some of the best art museums in the world. Check it out and I would love to hear what you think!

 Johannes Vermeer had the extraordinary gift to create

Hals, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Vermeer or someone else? These and more artists are part of the free, virtual audio tour of the Rijksmuseum in the Amuze app: www.amuzeapp.com

 Who is your favorite Dutch painter? Hals, Rembrandt, Van

Vincent van Gogh took inspiration from Japanese ukiyo-e art and copied various Japanese works.

For The Courtesan he copied and expanded a print of Keisai Eisen and added his vibrant colors to it to make it shine.

Van Gogh's version (in color) is in the Van Gogh Museum and the original by Eisen is in black and white.

 Vincent van Gogh took inspiration from Japanese ukiyo-e art

The Cannon Shot (1680) by Jan van de Velde the Younger (1633-1707) is not part of a battle, it is rather a salute as the ship is about to leave.

We can see that the sailing ship with three masts is raising its sails to leave. And the effects of the cannon shot are beautifully illustrated by the enormous clouds of smoke.

The Dutch artist Van de Velde created a beautiful contrast between the calm sea and the chaotic effects of the cannon shot. It is as if time stands still for a moment and the sea wishes the ship good luck on its mission.

 Can you hear the blast? The Cannon Shot (1680) by Jan van

"I had little trouble in conveying the sense of sadness and extreme solitude" - Vincent van Gogh three weeks before his death when writing about Wheatfield with Crows.

This work is on display in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

While feeling sad and lonely, Van Gogh also intended to express in this work his feelings about the healthy and invigorating countryside.

 "I had little trouble in conveying the sense of sadness and

Jan Adam Kruseman (1804-1862) was the portrait painter of choice for the Dutch high society in the beginning of the 19th century.

These two portraits are typical works, a person in the latest fashion with a dog.

 Jan Adam Kruseman (1804-1862) was the portrait painter of

The Fiddler is an early work by Marc Chagall expressing doubt about his real place in this world. Belarus where he grew up (and shown in this work), or Paris where he lives?

 The Fiddler is an early work by Marc Chagall expressing

Johannes Vermeer had a sublime feel for calming compositions, approaching perfection.

I just made a two-minute video explaining why this 17th-century version of Google Streetview is such a wonderful work. See the link in my bio.

 Johannes Vermeer had a sublime feel for calming

This portrait shows a beautiful girl painted with utmost precision!

I just uploaded an video in which you can learn more about the Portrait of a Girl Dressed in Blue by Johannes Verspronck: https://youtube.com/watch?v=HcNyiss70t4

This painting is on display in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

 This portrait shows a beautiful girl painted with utmost

The Rijksmuseum is among the first of the big art museums that has reopened.

Syndics of the Draper's Guild is one of many wonderful Rembrandt paintings in this museum.

And this work is part of our free highlights audio tour of the Rijksmuseum (www.amuzeapp.com)

 The Rijksmuseum is among the first of the big art museums

Malevich enjoyed painting peasant subjects in clear colors and cylindrical shapes early in his career. Taking in the Rye in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam is a great example of this colorful style.

Later in his career, his paintings became much more abstract and tried to depict pure feelings and spirituality.

 Malevich enjoyed painting peasant subjects in clear colors

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669): The Night Watch; Militia Company (1642) - Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Rembrandt has displayed the traditional emblem of the Arquebusiers in the painting in a natural way: the girl in yellow dress in the background is carrying the main symbols. She is a kind-of mascot herself: the claws of a dead chicken on her belt represent the clauweniers (arquebusiers); the pistol behind the chicken stands for 'clover'; and, she is holding the militia's goblet. The man in front of her is wearing a helmet with an oak leaf, a traditional motif of the Arquebusiers. The dead chicken is also meant to represent a defeated adversary. The colour yellow is often associated with victory.

 Details of; Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669): The Night

Rembrandt: The Night Watch; Militia Company (1642) - Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

With effective use of sunlight and shade, Rembrandt leads the eye to the three most important characters among the crowd, the two gentlemen in the centre (from whom the painting gets its original title), and the small girl in the centre left background. Behind them, the company's colours are carried by the ensign, Jan Visscher Cornelissen.