Tag: seurat

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H.P. Bremmer (1871-1956)

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The book i recently read on H.P. Bremmer shows the importance of this art consultant/artist. Not only he advised Mrs Kröller Muller , but he maintained one of the most important art networks during his life, which made it possible for him to advise mrs. Kroller Muller, the very best of art which at that time was and became available. His network made it possible to acquire works by van Gogh, Seurat, Signac, Toorop ….but also more modern artists like Matisse, Toorop and Severini. The result was one of the most stunning art collections in the world and the collection still stands out for its quality and location in Otterlo. . At random some names that made it possible for H.P. Bremmer to maintain his network untiul his death in 1956. : Hannema, Huszar, Lemmen, Israels, Modriaan, Sluijters, Redonm, Toorop, Mendes da Costa.

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For those who mastered the dutch language….the very interesting book on H.P. Bremmer is now available at www.ftn-books.com

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Henri-Edmond Cross (1856-1910)

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Why I did not think of Cross before I do not know, but it is a fact that Cross is at least as import as Maximilien Luce (he painted the portrait above this blog) and Henri Le Sidaner. His name did not become the household name like the ones of Seurat and Signac became, but his works are not less important than the ones by these. Cross his works are more intimate and reflect nature mainly of the French South Coast.

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Cross became in his time one of the artists who embraced neo-impressionism and the pointillist way of painting.

Cross’s paintings of the early- to mid-1890s are characteristically Pointillist, with closely and regularly positioned tiny dots of colour. Beginning around 1895, he gradually shifted his technique, instead of using broad, blocky brushstrokes and leaving small areas of exposed bare canvas between the strokes. The resulting surfaces resembled mosaics,and the paintings may be seen as precursors to Fauvism and Cubism In the Pointillist style, minute spots of paint were used to blend colours harmoniously.

What most people do not know is that Henri Matisse was a great admirer of Henri-Edmond Cross and that the influence of Cross can be discovered in the early paintings of Matisse. This alone makes Cross of importance in Art’s history.

www.ftn-books.com has a nice title on his sketches available

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Barend Blankert ( 1941 )

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Barend Blankert excels in realism with a twist. In some cases his works remind me of  Teun Hocks ( tomorrows blog) , but most of the time one feels an “unease” in the scene. Wether the object/person is curled up on the floor, on the edge of a bed or crouching at a table. You feel a pity for the person in the painting. Blankert does not hesitate to refer to other painters in his paintings. There is this great example of the two boys in the Seurat painting BAIGNEURS A ASNIERES (in the National gallery collection). The two boys in the Blankert painting are exact copies of the ones in the Seurat painting, but where the painting by Seurat is crowded by others. The two boys are alone in an empty room, making the scene a sad one.

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Still his works are worthwhile to look at and timeless. Barend Blankert is represented by galerie Mokum. The  Blankert monograph is available at www.ftn-books.com

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Hendrik Jan Wolter (1873-1952)

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Hendrik Jan Wolter is not on show in many Museum collections, however his works appear frequently at auctions in the Netherlands. It took at least 20 years of auctioning, but now his works fetch average to good prices ( 1000-5000 euro) and deservedly so, because according to many his impressionist works belong to the best impressionist works made in the Netherlands in the 20th century. he knew Theo van Rijsselberghe, Seurat and Signac and was greatly influencedx by all 3 without becoming a pointilist “pur sang” his works are more a cross between the pointillists and impressionists meeting with Matisse.

Here are some examples of his works:

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Boats in sorts and kinds were his passion, because on the majority of his paintings you will encounter boats. A fascinating artist who becomes increasingly important in the Netherlands. www.ftn-books.com has some nice Hendrik Jan Wolter publications available.

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Hannie Bal and Verve

Hannie Bal was married to Willem Schrofer. Schrofer was one of the founding members of VERVE and together with her husband they both were VERVE members during its existence. Both Hannie Bal and Schrofer were later recognized as highly influential in the Dutch art scene ( Schrofer taught at the Koninklijke Academie) and both were important for the  NIEUWE HAAGSE SCHOOL. A group of artists, all living in the The Hague area, and working close together in the 50’s and 60’s , meeting regularly in the Haagse Kunstkring and the Bodega DE POSTHOORN.

Hannie Bal was one of the few female artist in those days, but her work has nothing feminine. It was inspired by great artists like Cezanne and the later Neo Impressionists like Seurat and Signac

…..and she even had a very productive period at the end of the sixties/early seventies in which she made Constructivist paintings.

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Why this short story on Hannie Bal and Verve. Verve because there are some extremely nice early publications on Verve and its artists at www.ftn-books.com available and secondly. ….Today i started 2 auctions with work by Hannie Bal on Catawiki. Both starting at only euro 1,– which make these very nice works a possible win for all. Take a look at them and start bidding on this Black Friday weekend………

here are the links for the Hannie Bal auctions:

https://veiling.catawiki.nl/kavels/8902465-hannie-bal-schuin-vierkant

https://veiling.catawiki.nl/kavels/8932619-hannie-bal-station-met-trein-tuin

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Seurat and pointillism

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Seurat can be seen as one of the founders of the style which is now know as Pointillism. Painting small dots in a specific color and order, thus making a composition which is fresh, clear, has vivid colors , because the dots look to melt which each other and in this way producing a vivid , shiny color. The composition itself was in many cases linear with imaginary lines all moving in one direction. For instance the lines of Le Chahut all go up. ( see the moustaches).

There are not many paintings executed in the pointillistic style by Seurat. Seurat only became 31 years of age and in this time he made 50 known paintings in the pointillist style. We are fortunate to have one  in the Netherlands and it is not the least important one, because mrs Kroller Muller chose this herself to be part of her impressive collection. So do not visit the Museum Kroller Mulelr for the van Gogh’s , but instead look at the other paintings in the collection which are at least as impressive . The Seurat being one of them.

Tip. When you visit the Kroller Muller Museum. Leave your car at the entrance and hop on a bike to cycle to the museum and the Jachtslot by Berlage one of the most beautiful National Parks the Netherlands has and a great way to spend a day.

for some nice titles on Seurat: www.ftn-books.com

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