Around 1885, Jan Toorop was considered the most internationally renowned artist in the Netherlands. Through him, his contemporaries were introduced to the happenings in Belgium and France. Works of French contemporaries such as Monet were still unknown in the Netherlands.
Toorop organized the first exhibition of Vincent Van Gogh’s works. The exhibition caused a stir, as Van Gogh’s exceptionally colorful paintings greatly influenced the younger generation of artists. Experiments with color and form were also characteristic of the arts and crafts during this period.
Inspired by Japanese art and nature, the “Art Nouveau” movement emerged in France, called “new art” or “Jugendstil” in the Netherlands. A well-known example is Toorop’s poster design for the Delft Lettuce Oil Factory (Lettuce Oil style). Here, Indian art served as a significant source of inspiration for his design.
www.ftn-books.com has several Jan Toorop titles available.
