Slow Museum Saturdays #1 | Lost in the Depot

Welcome to the first session ever of the Slow Museum Saturdays meetup!
Slow Museum Saturdays is a meetup for people who want to experience museums differently—through deep observation, curiosity, and shared reflection. Instead of skimming past exhibits, we take our time, noticing details, questioning meanings, and discussing our discoveries.
Each session focuses on a limited number of artworks—some we already recommend but personal exploration is also encouraged. Whether you're an art enthusiast or just curious, join us in slowing down, looking closer, and seeing more.
This Saturday we visit the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, a unique museum archive where masterpieces are stored and displayed in unconventional ways. Currently they are celebrating the museum’s 175th anniversary, Lievelingen(Beloved) exhibition showcases its most treasured masterpieces, from Bruegel and Rembrandt to Magritte and Rothko.

Agenda:
2:00 – 2:15 PM | Meet & Intro – Gather, overview of slow looking
2:15 – 3:45 PM | Slow Looking – 7–10 min per artwork, personal discoveries
3:45 – 4:15 PM | Discussion – Reflections on themes & surprises
4:15 – 5:00 PM | Wrap-Up – Casual chats & next meetup plans

Selected Artworks:
We have selected some artworks for you to focus on that we think would be worth your time:
Pieter Bruegel the Elder – The Tower of Babel
A mind-blowing display of intricate details, small figures in motion, a lopsided tower, and intriguing plays of light. Why does red light shine on parts of the tower? What is the source of the stark white illumination?
Rembrandt – Titus at His Desk
A contemplative portrait—muted, shadowed, and atmospheric. What was Titus reflecting on? And why does the lighting feel so unnatural yet deliberate?
René Magritte – Not to be Reproduced
A surrealist puzzle with an impossible reflection. Beyond the figure, a book sits open—its contents unexplored. What might it be? What deeper meaning does Magritte conceal?
Jaan Weenix – Dead Swan
A still life that is anything but lifeless. A haunting composition of dead birds, rotten fruit, and ominous engravings. Why does the swan hang from a vase adorned with an unsettling face?
Mark Rothko – Grey, Orange on Maroon, Mo. 8
A canvas of color fields—some find it deeply moving, others find it perplexing. What happens when you soften your gaze? Do the colors dissolve?
Evaristo Baschenis – Still Life with Musical Instruments, Books, and Sculpture
A hyper-detailed oil painting that tricks the eye. Dust, smudges, imperfections—was the artist a meticulous realist, or a playful provocateur?

Apart from these you are also encouraged to look at specific pieces that you find curious. Please join us as we embark on our mindful exploration of art, details, and hidden meanings—this time in the unconventional setting of the Depot.

Note: Please buy tickets for the specified start time. For now participants are expected to manage that by themselves.