Marine (c. 1894-1912)
Betzy Akersloot-Berg
Friday 30 October 2026
Through the wind
For the exhibition Betzy Akersloot-Berg: One of a Kind at Museum Panorama Mesdag, Marine from our own collection has been restored in the Frans Hals Museum’s restoration atelier. The exhibition runs from 3 October 2026 to 28 February 2027.
About the artist
Betzy Akersloot-Berg (1850–1922) was one of Europe’s most important female marine and landscape painters of her time. Born in Norway and later moving to Vlieland, she was surrounded throughout her life by her greatest source of inspiration: the sea. She therefore loved to paint on the beach, come rain or shine. In her paintings, one can really sense the power and ruggedness of the water, the sky and the beach.
Yellowed varnish layer
Christa Molenaar, a guest restorer, carried out this restoration. She describes the process as follows: "Although the painting was structurally in good condition, a very heavily yellowed varnish layer obscured the original colour contrasts in the painting. The warm tones of the sea and the cooler colours of the sky were hidden behind a yellowish haze."
Surface dirt
"During the treatment, the surface dirt was first removed, after which the varnish could be dissolved using a carefully selected solvent. Beneath this yellowed layer, the painting slowly came back to life: the colours became brighter and the contrast between the sea and the sky became visible once more."
Grains of sand
“What is remarkable is that the restoration also revealed tiny grains of sand embedded in the paint. They form a subtle yet tangible trace of the painting’s creation: a reminder of the artist working on this painting on the beach.”
Want to find out more? Visit the Museum Panorama Mesdag website to discover more about the life and paintings of Betzy Akersloot-Berg.
