The infamous mural Roosje (Rose) can be found on the corner of Jacob van Lennepstraat and Nassaukade. This autumn Roosje was back on display, after maintenance and repainting activities.
The artwork is inspired by the erotic poem ‘To a Rose’ by Jacob van Lennep, and it is made by artist Rombout Oomen. It was intended as a project to brighten up the neighbourhood, but the mural also encountered resistance by a part of the residents. Not everyone appreciated the nude female body, and in the autumn of 2004 Roosje’s private parts were vandalised with paint bombs. This incident instigated a public debate, Roosje was extensively talked about in Dutch media. In the end it was decided to renovate the mural and provide it with a protective coating.
The artist decided to incorporate the public debate in the artwork by retouching and obscuring the private parts. Again in 2004, however, it was vandalised again; an even heavier protective coating followed. And now she is back again, carrying out her beauty for years to come.
This artwork is part of the Sunday Sculptures series that Stadscuratorium Amsterdam posts every Sunday on Instagram.
Image: Rombout Oomen
