New Issue: The Bull (Netherlands)

Last month the Netherlands issued this stamp, celebrating The Bull - a famous painting by Dutch artist Paulus Potter. The Bull - sometimes called The Young Bull - is a classic work of art and the full painting can be seen below.

The stamps have been designed by Frank Janse from Gouda. There are five stamps and they show sections of the original painting, placed in a strip through the middle of the painting. Design Quality - I don't understand why the designer has created this strip of stamps through the middle of the painting, which in my view simply spoils the original. The five elements of the painting - the cow, the oak, the farmer, the bull and the sheep - could perhaps have their own stamps, but wouldn't it have been better to have them placed along the bottom? it would have been better than covering the most interesting section of the painting! The large yellow lettering for "do koe" etc, dominates the stamps and is unnecessary as it states the obvious. I don't like it and it totally spoils the stamps. 3/10 Historical and Cultural Relevance - Paulus Potter is one of many great Dutch artists of the 17th century. Sadly, he died at the age of only 28 and The Bull is his most famous work. The stamps may have been a bit more relevant if they had been issued on 20th November last year, which would have been the 400th anniversary of his birth. 5/10

Theme and Subject Choice - It's quite a good subject choice for the Netherlands, although it is not marking any anniversary. 5/10

Innovation and Creativity - There's really nothing creative here. The stamps simply take sections of the painting and add some lettering which, in my opinion, doesn't improve anything. The font used for "Paulus Potter - De Stier" gives it more dignity but it's not particularly creative or inventive.  1/10

Collectability - A lot of thematic collectors will be interested as it includes animals while also celebrating one of the great Dutch painters. 7/10

Personal Appeal - I like the painting but I'm not a big fan of the miniature sheet. Personally, I think they'd have been better creating two stamps - one showing The Bull in full and then another with a portrait of the artist. 3/10 Overall score - 24/60