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Lot Essay
At the end of the 19th century picturesque Scheveningen was an attractive location to the The Hague School painters who wished to depict traditional scenes of bomschuiten on the beach and fishingfolk at work. Willy Sluiter, as a student of Bernardus Blommers at the The Hague Academy from 1894-1897, was also intrigued by its folklore. In the years to follow, Sluiter lived and worked in the quiet and traditional fishing village of Katwijk and moved to Laren in 1909. There he established his reputation and was much appreciated for his poster designs. He travelled around Europe and Indonesia and made contributions to satitric periodicals and progressive newspapers. Sluiter was admired for his fresh, creative and strong talent.
By the time Sluiter returned to Scheveningen in 1916, twenty years after his time at the Academy, his focus had changed significantly. He established himself as an acclaimed portraitist, painting several members of the royal family and could ask 1.000 guilders for a portrait. He had also become an innovative book illustrator, working with fellow artists Jan Sluyters and Piet van der Hem. Willy Sluiter painted the mundane world of the upper class, often with a humorous note.
The present painting, executed in 1932, is a fine example of his mature style. We see a modern couple, provocatively dressed and taking a leisurely walk on Scheveningen boulevard. Sluiter shows us a rapidly changing society, contrasting the couple on the right with the two giggling girls in traditional costumes on the left. In this important painting all of Sluiter's creative talents are combined.
By the time Sluiter returned to Scheveningen in 1916, twenty years after his time at the Academy, his focus had changed significantly. He established himself as an acclaimed portraitist, painting several members of the royal family and could ask 1.000 guilders for a portrait. He had also become an innovative book illustrator, working with fellow artists Jan Sluyters and Piet van der Hem. Willy Sluiter painted the mundane world of the upper class, often with a humorous note.
The present painting, executed in 1932, is a fine example of his mature style. We see a modern couple, provocatively dressed and taking a leisurely walk on Scheveningen boulevard. Sluiter shows us a rapidly changing society, contrasting the couple on the right with the two giggling girls in traditional costumes on the left. In this important painting all of Sluiter's creative talents are combined.