(98) The Trick with Duo Hermans Janssens, Notes for The Junior Collection

The Junior Collection

Although the first visual reference to Junior can be found in (39) Study for the Face of Junior, The Junior Collection, it is in (177) The Making of Junior, The Junior Collection, that we first get a unique insight into how Junior was constructed, as well as an introduction to her character, costumes and early conversations.

Visitor - So what do you want to do today ?

Junior - Go to the beach.

V - The beach. Well it is quite sunny but I think we should go shopping first.

J - Suppose so.........Den Haag’s a bit boring.

V - Well we’ve only been here a few days, we should give it a chance.

J - I don't wanna go around any more museums, they’re boring.

V - Well what do you want to do ?

J - I wanna go home.

Extract from First Conversation, (177) The Making of Junior.

Within the video we see live footage of, (109) The Trick, The Junior Collection, (110),(111), (112),(113), (114), (115) Entertaining Junior, The Junior Collection, where we see the first use of (40) Ping Pong Balls for Entertaining and (41) Playing Cards for Entertaining, The Junior Collections, and we hear the conversations which refer to (42) On the Beach at Scheveningen, (43) Conversation at Scheveningen , and (44a,b,c,d,e) Relaxing at Scheveningen, The Junior Collection. A second reference to the beach scenes with Junior can be found in two other works in the collection (29) A Charmed Life, The Lahey Collection, and (30) On the Beach at Yarmouth, The Allegory of Happiness Collection, Holidays, both depict similar beach scenes. (The Costumes of Junior will be discussed later in The Costume Collection). Although The Junior Collection does refer again to the implied loneliness of the visitor, another aspect of it is worth analysing.
This secondary reference reveals itself not only in The Junior Collection, but throughout The Collection, and is the idea of self entertainment and amateur dramatics. Such works as (52) A Guide to Ventriloquism, The Junior Collection, (101) Portrait with Florenetta, The Junior Collection, (125) Performance, Notes for The Junior Collection, (126) Portrait of Haak van Overloop, Notes for The Junior Collection, and (127) Portrait of Charlie Remark, Notes for The Junior Collection, most of which are positioned in the Middle Panel, (Second Lower Section) all seem to highlight this connection. This particular subject is developed further should we compare two major pieces in the The Junior Collection - (109) The Trick, The Junior Collection and (98) The Trick with Duo Hermans Janssens, Notes for The Junior Collection, whose similarities are numerous. To really discover and develop this new reference to entertainment it is necessary to take a look at two new collections...

(109) The Trick, The Junior Collection