Interieur met lezende jongen', was executed in 1911 and makes part of a symbolist phase in the artist's small oeuvre, which lasted from 1910 to 1913. After being introduced to the work of Matthijs Maris and most probably the symbolist work of Piet Mondriaan, Mankes' paintings gain even more hazy softness in tone, with fading backgrounds and a slight loss of perspective. His elaborate working method would contribute to this effect. http://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/jan-mankes-dutch,-1889-1920