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Jan Dibbets (continued)

Important message :

We are relocating!
Starting today, we will be occupied with packing and moving our internet store inventory. The entire collection needs to be transferred from Leidschendam to Oegstgeest, and this will take some time.
If all goes according to plan, we will be fully operational again on November 21st, but until then, it may happen that we are unable to immediately assist you with your order. We ask for your understanding, but as soon as possible, your order will be fulfilled with the utmost speed.

In the 1960s, he explored the assumptions of what we see through photography. Dibbets is interested in the concept of perception. The photo Perspective Correction, My Studio i, i: Square on Wall (1969) shows how a trapezium drawn on the wall becomes a square due to the perspective in which Dibbets took this photo. The spatial illusion he creates in his work begs the question of what photography does and what the viewer sees when presented with an image. A visual “read, but it doesn’t say what it says.”

One of the recurring motifs in Dibbets’ oeuvre is the window. He photographs windows of various shapes – round or square – but never from a frontal position. This distorts them. A circle becomes an ellipse; a square becomes a diamond. In some series, Dibbets also plays with the ‘landscape’ in which the window is situated. He cuts the window out of the photo and re-introduces it against a solid painted background. This raises the question of what is the foreground and what is the background: photographic and painting illusions come together.

He cuts the window out of the photo and re-introduces it against a solid painted background. This raises the question of what is the foreground and what is the background: photographic and painting illusions come together.

“You have a subject [photography] in which almost nothing happens. Everyone is obediently taking photos, there are billions of photos, all day long. But there is hardly any research. But that research is precisely what makes it so interesting.

And that research is not being done. It has been forgotten for a hundred years. And that’s my drive.”

Dibbets studied at the Academy for Visual Arts in Tilburg (1959-1963) and at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London (1967). His work was represented at the famous exhibitions Op losse schroeven at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.

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FTN Books & Art is relocating

We are relocating!
Starting today, we will be occupied with packing and moving our internet store inventory. The entire collection needs to be transferred from Leidschendam to Oegstgeest, and this will take some time.
If all goes according to plan, we will be fully operational again on November 21st, but until then, it may happen that we are unable to immediately assist you with your order. We ask for your understanding, but as soon as possible, your order will be fulfilled with the utmost speed.

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Arne Jacobsen (continued)

Arne Jacobsen (February 11, 1902 – March 24, 1971) was a Danish architect and designer. Despite his early aspirations of becoming a painter, his father encouraged him to pursue a career in architecture. Jacobsen would go on to become one of the greatest Scandinavian architects and industrial designers of the 20th century. His “less is more” approach places him among the same echelon of great architects of the time, such as Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, and Gunnar Asplund. What set Arne Jacobsen apart from these icons was his design’s position at the forefront of the Scandinavian design movement, pushing boundaries and defying conventions.

Among the highlights of his impressive career are two notable achievements: his introduction of flatware for Georg Jensen in 1957 and his design of the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen the following year. Arne Jacobsen’s flatware was revolutionary, setting itself apart with its use of simple yet bold lines, a departure from Georg Jensen’s previous styles. It made a lasting impression on the world of design. His functionalist approach continued to dominate the design world for years to come. The premiere of the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen in 1958 garnered global attention. Arne Jacobsen designed both the structure and interior of this hotel, creating a stunning and rare fusion of exterior and interior design. Many of the designs found within this hotel have become iconic pieces, such as the candleholder that bears his name and the iconic “Egg” and “Swan” chairs for Fritz Hansen.

www.ftn-books.com has several Jacobsen titles available.

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James Coleman (1941)

Ballaghadereen, Ireland, 1941 – a momentous year for the birth of James Coleman. In the present day, he is based in both Dublin and Paris. Spanning back to his inaugural exhibition in the far-off year of 1970, Coleman’s pioneering practice has redefined our understanding and expectations of time-based work. His impact on artists of subsequent generations is immeasurable.

With meticulous composure, Coleman critiques the photographic image through slide, film, and video projections. He invites the viewer to explore the complexities of how an image accrues meaning, while simultaneously pondering their own role in defining the experience of photography. Despite the subtle conceptual and temporal aspects that Coleman ascribes, his works exude a sensuality and elegance that stem from his embrace of the inherent uncertainties and potential of the photographic image.

Coleman’s academic journey took him to the renowned École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, as well as the Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan, among other prestigious institutions like the Central School of Art and Design in London and the National College of Art and Design University College in Dublin. In 2006, the National University of Ireland bestowed upon him an honorary doctorate, and in 2002, he received the Kurt Schwitters Prize in Hannover, Germany, as well as the Kunstpreis München. Notably, Coleman represented Ireland at the Paris Biennial in 1973.

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Bram van Velde ( continued)

Another short blog on Barm vanVelde. A dutch artist who has become more and more important in Dutch art in the last decade. The French consider van Velde as one of their artists and compatriots ( he leived for many years in France) and theduthc?,….. they consider him to be dutch. This is ofcourse of no importance, but his works are!

Recently www.ftn-books.com acquired the complete set of 3 books on his lithographies. Vol 1, 2 and 3 are now available at www.ftn-books.com

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John Lie-A-Fo (1945)

John Lie A Fo (Paramaribo, 1945) is a Surinamese visual artist. He paints, creates graphic work, sculpts, and draws inspiration from themes of the Surinamese jungle. Lie A Fo studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and the Free Academy in The Hague. Later, he was accepted into the BKR (Artists Regulation), allowing him to fully dedicate himself to his art. In 1979, Lie A Fo relocated to Suriname. Following the December murders, he returned to The Hague. In 1983, he moved to French Guiana. He frequently returns to The Hague to work on his craft.

www.ftn-books.com has beside some books now 2 silkscreen prnts for gallery exhibitions available.

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Jan Bogaerts ( 1878-1962)

Jan Bogaerts  was born in Den Bosch, where he learned the art of painting at the Royal School for Useful and Visual Arts from renowned artists such as Piet Slager and Antoon van Welie. Afterward, in 1899, Bogaerts continued his education at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. From 1906 to 1918, he resided and worked in Teteringen, in the portion of the former municipality that now forms part of the city of Breda. In his early years, he drew inspiration from romantic literature, which he translated into his dreamy depictions of landscapes adorned with castles and figures. This style and content can be described as symbolistic and related to the art nouveau movement of the time.

Bogaerts also sought a similar intensity in subjects from his everyday surroundings, which he illustrated with a more realistic approach. Through seemingly casual close-ups of a farmyard or a bench at the edge of a forest, he captured a beautifully serene representation in his work. During his time in Teteringen, Bogaerts also turned his attention to still life painting. Here, he found a medium that allowed him to express his ideas of stillness, depth, and intimacy with great attention to detail and endless variations.

www.ftn-books.com has the Noordbrabants Mzseum catalog now available.

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Jacob Dooijewaard (1876-1969)

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.

www.ftn-books.com has now the scarce Stedelijk Muzseum catalog available.

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W.O.J. Nieuwenkamp (1874-1950)

Following several lessons at the Amsterdam School of Applied Arts, he established himself as a self-taught artist. He worked in various locations such as Amsterdam, the Middle East, Java in 1898, Bali in 1904, and Lombok in 1906 and 1907. Starting from 1900, the year of his marriage to Anna Wilbrink, he began building a houseboat named “De Zwerver” (The Wanderer). With this, he sailed through the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Soon, exhibitions were held on board, allowing his work to be purchased. In 1906, his design was used to build the villa “D’Eekhorst” in Lunteren, Gelderland, commissioned by his father-in-law, G.J. Wilbrink.

In 1913 and 1914, he traveled to British India. From 1917 to 1919, he journeyed to Java, Bali, and Timor, as well as other territories. In 1924-1925, he traveled to Sumatra, Java, and Bali as a result of a commission from the Amsterdam Trading Association. In 1933-1934, he visited Egypt. In 1936/1937, he made his final trip to Bali. Another trip was hindered by the outbreak of World War II. Books were written and illustrated about these travels, and many articles were published in the magazine Dutch East Indies, Old and New. His contributions also appeared in scientific journals. Much of Nieuwenkamp’s work after 1925 is linked to the Borobudur Temple in Java.

Nieuwenkamp and Anna had four children, including Willem Nieuwenkamp. As the family grew and their collection of art objects acquired during their travels expanded, he was compelled to build a house in the countryside. This was accomplished in Edam.Villa Nieuwenkamp in Fiesole.

www.ftn-books.com has the 1934 commemorative publication by the Stedelijk MUseum Amsterdam now available.

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Joan MIró ( continued)

Miro admirers and collectors, know that the only affordable way to collect Miro, is by collecting the special editions for which Miro was commissioned to make a cover or special edition in a large edition size to make it still accessible for all. This way Maeght made some special publications with the artist. As for the STEDELIJK MUSEUM AMSTERDAM…they commissioned Miro to make a special cover for his catalog from 1956. This and other MIro collectable editions is now available at www.ftn-books.com