Bernard Heesen

and the Madness of the 19th Century

Bernard Heesen is without a doubt the most baroque and eccentric glass artist in the Netherlands. He is exhibiting recent work inspired by what is often called “the ugly period”: the second half of the 19th century with all its neo-styles.

Encyclopedic Glass Creations

“Try to blow this!” Bernard Heesen said in 1997 to a team of the eight best glassblowers from Bohemia, who stood waiting with questioning looks for his instructions. By “this,” Heesen meant the intricate engravings on jugs, vases, and arabesques from a 19th-century encyclopedia he had just acquired.

The reference work came at a time when his fascination with glass and glassblowing seemed to be fading. Over the years, working with molten glass had become easier for him, and the limits of technical possibilities appeared to have been reached. But with his newly acquired encyclopedia, he found a fresh source of inspiration. “One ugly creation after another was executed with incredible pleasure down to the smallest detail,” Heesen said.

Quest for the Limits of Ornamentation and Ugliness

From that moment on, the 19th-century images became the starting point for much of Heesen’s glasswork. It’s not so much about mere imitation; rather, glassblowing serves as a strategy to create forms and objects he could never have invented on his own. While blowing glass, Heesen pushes the boundaries of ornamentation and ugliness. He creates glass “as you might want to encounter it in palaces and at flea markets, shiny and extravagantly decorated.”

Madness of the 19th Century

Heesen’s fascination with 19th-century ornamentation goes back even further. Since his early childhood, he has collected encyclopedias from this period. It was a time of rising industrialization and the accompanying mass production. Industrially produced goods were executed in historical styles, giving rise to neo-Gothic, neo-Classicism, neo-Baroque, and so on — styles that were already associated with bad taste at the time. For this reason, the second half of the 19th century is often called “the ugly period.” But instead of “ugly,” Heesen prefers to speak of the “madness” — the madness of the 19th century.

Exhibition

The exhibition at Rijksmuseum Twenthe focused on the influence of the “madness of the 19th century” on Heesen’s work. All the glass on display was based on 19th-century engravings, and almost all of the pieces were specially created by Heesen for this project. Life-size prints of the engravings and encyclopedias from Heesen’s personal collection bring his world to life.

Nearly all the glassworks are for sale. Information and prices can be found at the shop counter.

On the night of Monday, April 9, Bernard Heesen was a guest on the VPRO radio program Nooit meer slapen. Listen to the radio segment here.