Jewish born Martin Monnickendam never became known in the Netherlands until two decades ago (1999) the Joods Historisch Museum devoted a retropective exhibition to the artist. He painted every day life and some great interiors of Synagoges in the years just after WWI but with these only reached local fame within the Jewish community. It was not until the DE BERGENSE SCHOOL grew in popularity that the name Monnickendam surfaced again together with Kees Maks. Both artists were fond of depicting daily life of the “well to do” . Making paintings of people in theatres, circus and restaurants. These paintings reflect how the dutch spend their days and free time in the early decades of the 20th century. He died in 1945 of pneumonia leaving an oeuvre that deserves to be re discovered.
