This afternoon the mural of Jacobus Cornelius Kapteyn was unveiled by Jouke de Vries, chairman of the Executive Board of the University of Groningen. The mural, made by artist Fynn van der Ziel, occupies an entire wall in the Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat, at the entrance of the University Museum. The presentation of the artwork comes just before the 100th anniversary of Kapteyn's death.
According to artist Fynn van der Ziel, the mural is a colorful affair. “It's a bit of a puzzle,” he says. “It is more than just a portrait, it contains many elements from Kapteyn's life.” Kapteyn himself can be seen on the wall, with his glass plates. Behind him is a poster showing his link to South Africa. But there are also elements that may be less obvious. Kapteyn, for example, sits on a tree stump – a reference to his research into tree rings and the influence of the sun on the climate. Because Kapteyn was a great animal lover, rabbits and birds can be seen and if you look closely, you will also discover a chip shop – a reference to the snack bar on the J.C. Kapteynlaan. “That's what many people think of when they hear the name Kapteyn”, laughs Van der Ziel.
One of the founding fathers of Dutch astronomy
Jacobus Kapteyn (1851-1922) is the first professor of astronomy and theoretical mechanics at the University of Groningen. “You can rightly call Kapteyn one of the fathers of Dutch astronomy,” says Arjen Dijkstra, director of the University Museum. Kapteyn's work goes beyond just astronomy. Kapteyn shared his knowledge and thereby influenced other great scientists, such as Jantina Tammes, who he teaches in statistics, and Jan Hendrik Oort, who studied with him. “He is a real example of the way in which we now want to work as a university: interdisciplinary and international,” concludes Dijkstra.
Academic Murals
The mural of Jacobus Kapteyn is the second in a series of academic murals about Groningen science. The series is commissioned by the University of Groningen, in collaboration with Kunstpunt. The painting of Aletta Jacobs was previously realized, which can be found around the corner, on the Academieplein.