Lot Essay
See illustration
THE PROPERTY OF THE LATE MRS. C. POORTENAAR-VELDHUYSEN, BUSSUM
A COLLECTION OF PICTURES, WATERCOLOURS, DRAWINGS AND PRINTS
BY JAN POORTENAAR (1886-1958)
TO BE SOLD FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE STICHTING BEIAARD-CENTRUM NEDERLAND, AMERSFOORT.
PART II
Lots 29-70
As a painter Jan Poortenaar was, in his early days, a pupil of Piet van Wijngaerdt. As a graphic-artist, writer and musician he was a self-taught man.
At the age of 20 he was awarded with the Koninklijke Subsidie voor Kunstschilders (Royal Grant for painters)followed by exhibitions in Brussels and London.
From 1914 to 1922 Jan Poortenaar resided in London where he made the first of large etchings, which dealt with the industrial waterways of London, culminating in a series of the Thames-bridges; Blackfriars-, Waterloo- and London bridge.
In 1915 Jan Poortenaar was awarded with the silver medal at the International Exhibition in San Francisco. Willem Witsen, one of Holland's best known 19th Century graphic artists was, at the time, a member of the jury and showed great amiration for Jan Poortenaar by purchasing some of his works, and more specificly by stating:"This lad is a better etcher than I am".
Like Witsen, Poortenaar used to make his etching-technique and general feeling follow the size of his subjects, moving with facility from the simplest of outlines in his small plates, to the romantic play of light and shadow in the more ambitious efforts.
Poortenaar travelled extensively, accompanying his first wife Geertruida van Vladeracken who performed as a singer/reciter.
This enabled Poortenaar to exhibit in many capitals cities both in Europe and America, and consequently Poortenaar is now represented in many major museums.
In 1922 Poortenaar and his wife embarked on a leisurely tour through Indonesia.
Here, Poortenaar had an abundance of subjects to paint, and his wife used to perform at various art societies including the one in Batavia where they met Isaac Israels.
In Solo they were invited to the court of H.R.H. the Soesoekan Pakoe Boewono X, and in Djocja to the court of H.R.H. the Sultan Hannengkoe Boewono VIII.
There they had the opportunity to see the noble Serimpi dancers and Wayang players, which Poortenaar rendered in colourful oils and watercolours.
The Indonesian landscape inspired Poortenaar to execute another major series of large etchings.
Poortenaar and his wife recorded their journeys throughout Indonesia in Een kunstreis in de Tropen, later translated as An artist in Java, and other Islands of Indonesia.
As an author Poortenaar was a well-known Rembrandt-interpretor. His appreciation for Rembrandt showed clearly in the publications like Rembrandt, zijn Kunst en zijn Leven and Rembrandt als Etser. Other books published for and read by a wide audience are:
Hollandse Etsers, van de Gouden Eeuw and Schilders van het Hollandsche landschap.
R.W.P. de Vries honoured Poortenaar with a book on the artist's life and work in which his final commendation reads as follows:'Zoo toont deze schrijvende schilder zich een 'master of many arts', die op velerlei gebied door zijn talen, zijn werklust, zijn tot experimenteeren neigenden geest en zijn ruime belangstelling een opmerkelijke persoonlijkheid in onze kunstwereld geworden is." (Op.cit.p.13)
Jan Poortenaar (1886-1958)
Details
Jan Poortenaar (1886-1958)
Resting Serimpi dancer, Jogyakarta, Java
signed Jan Poortenaar, oil on canvas
90 x 70 cm
Resting Serimpi dancer, Jogyakarta, Java
signed Jan Poortenaar, oil on canvas
90 x 70 cm