Jacob Dooijewaard, born in Amsterdam in 1876 and passing away in Laren in 1969, was the son of a house and decorative painter. Growing up in the bustling city of Amsterdam, his inherent talent for drawing was recognized at a young age. At the age of nineteen, he obtained his drawing teaching certificate and began teaching to support himself. After successfully participating in various exhibitions in Amsterdam, he was able to leave his teaching job. With a five-year contract from an art dealer, he rented his own studio on the bustling Bloemgracht in Amsterdam. Like many of his contemporaries, Dooijewaard was influenced by the Impressionism of Breitner. However, he was able to develop his own unique style. Dooijewaard is best known for his time in Laren. In 1901, he settled in this town of artists, with the exception of a short period in Nunspeet and some wanderings with fellow painters through Drenthe, Brabant, and Limburg. He also took study trips to Spain (1910), Norway (1919), Southern France and the Basque Country (1920). He frequently painted with his American friends Anna and William Singer in Norway from 1923 onwards. In 1927, they held a joint exhibition in Paris at Durand-Ruel, followed by a solo exhibition at this prestigious gallery. From 1928 onwards, Dooijewaard regularly exhibited at the Frans Buffa art dealership in Amsterdam, as well as at The Milch Galleries in New York. Dooijewaard maintained a close relationship with the Singers and was instrumental in the establishment of the Singer Museum in Laren in 1953. Dooijewaard’s work is characterized by a consistently high quality. However, there are a few stylistic breaks to note: after a period clearly influenced by Breitner, he then produced works with a bright, almost pointillist palette.
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