Artwork

Interior of the Hall of the "Art Is Obtained by Labor Society" in Leiden

Interior of the Hall of the "Art Is Obtained by Labor Society" in Leiden is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Paulus Constantijn la Fargue. It is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. This oil painting, created in 1790, depicts the interior of the 'Art Is Obtained by Labor Society' hall in Leiden.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The interior setting emphasizes order, utility, and communal purpose, aligning with Enlightenment ideals of self-improvement and rational organization.

The painting depicts the interior hall of the ‘Art Is Obtained by Labor Society’ in Leiden, an organization founded in 1772 that promoted artistic skill through study, practice, and collective improvement among its members. The scene shows the room arranged for an exhibition or meeting, with works on display and members gathered around, underscoring the society’s role in fostering artistic attainment through shared effort and discipline.

The interior setting emphasizes order, utility, and communal purpose, aligning with Enlightenment ideals of self-improvement and rational organization. The inclusion of artworks on the walls and the presence of people engaged in discussion reflect the society’s mission to cultivate talent and celebrate artistic labor as a path to social and cultural advancement.

Technique & Style

Created in 1780, this work is an oil painting executed on canvas. The piece functions as an architectural painting, depicting the interior of a specific society hall in Leiden with the formal characteristics of a cityscape genre. The composition measures 57.3 cm in height and 73.8 cm in width.

The application of oil paint allows for the detailed rendering of the interior space and structural elements typical of la Fargue's approach to architectural subjects.

History & Provenance

The painting was created by Paulus Constantijn la Fargue in 1780, executed in oil paint on canvas. It depicts the interior of the hall of the "Kunst Wordt Door Arbeid Verkregen" (Art Is Obtained by Labor) Society in Leiden. According to Wikidata records, the work is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum and Museum De Lakenhal, and is located at the Rijksmuseum.

Context

Critical reception of Interior of the Hall of the "Art Is Obtained by Labor Society" in Leiden has been limited, with few contemporary reviews surviving; modern scholarship situates the work within late 18th-century Dutch civic patronage and the emergence of genre scenes depicting social organizations, highlighting its role in documenting collective labor ideals. The painting is contextualized among la Fargue’s broader output of architectural interiors that blend precise topographical detail with moralizing narratives, reflecting Enlightenment-era concerns about industry and communal responsibility. Its placement in art history is noted for illustrating the transition from Rococo decorative concerns toward a more utilitarian realism in Dutch interior painting, prefiguring 19th-century genre works that emphasized social order.

Overview

This oil painting, created in 1790, depicts the interior of the 'Art Is Obtained by Labor Society' hall in Leiden. It is a work by Paulus Constantijn la Fargue, a Dutch painter from an artistic family.