Barbara Hepworth in the Rietveld pavilion

On 8 May 1965, the Rietveld pavilion is opened with a retrospective of the work of Barbara Hepworth. Oxenaar writes to her: 'Your sculptures have given the pavilion its real purpose and we feel that we have now found the integration of architecture, nature and sculpture which we have had in mind as ideal for this situation'.  

The pavilion is also a special place for Hepworth: ‘I was so happy about my exhibition […] I have longed for such a beautiful space for sculpture’. In a letter to Ellen Joosten she expresses her hope that her work Squares with two circles may remain in Otterlo: ‘I do hope the big one will stay with you forever’.