The salon is dedicated to the graphic works of Jan Toorop (1858-1928). He was one of the most influential painters from the turn of the century. He designed only few posters and all of them are shown in this room. Toorop went through different phases in the development of his art converting to Catholicism in the process. This is illustrated in his posters. 

Delft Salad Oil Poster

His poster for the Delft Salad Oil Company became famous and the Dutch version of art nouveau sometimes still is called “salad-oil style” or “spaghetti style”. Toorop had his indoor posters printed in subdued colours and for outdoors in darker shades. An art critic at the time called them “caviar for the people”. 

Pandorra

Special is his poster for the play Pandorra in 1919. It was printed in nine colors, which was very expensive and quite exceptional. Only few copies survive as the poster was never used. The reason lies in a strike by the workmen at the theaters and/or the closure of theaters as a result of the Spanish Flu pandemic. Nobody seems to know for sure. Some even suggested that the poster was banned because of the daring nudity of the design.

Work for Females

In 1898 Toorop made a design for the exhibition on female labour. On this draft is shown Marguérite Helfrich, whom he used as a model.

In 1924 Toorop was too weak physically to draw the design for the Eucharist Congress poster on the stone without help. Gerard Rutten (1902-1982) was an artist and skilled lithographer who created part of the design. As his work is closely related to that of Jan Toorop two of his posters are also shown. Later in life Gerard Rutten became a film director.