Jan Poortenaar (1886-1958)

PART I A collection of pictures, watercolours, drawings and prints by Jan Poortenaar (1886-1958) removed from the estate of the late Mrs C. Poortenaar - Veldhuysen, Bussum. To be sold for the benefit of the Stichting Beiaard-Centrum Nederland, Amersfoort. 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 at the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam aswell as further 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, culuminating in a series of the Thames-bridges; Blackfriars; Waterloo- and London Bridge. One of Holland's best known 19th Century graphic artists Willem Witsen, as a member of the jury, awarded Jan Poortenaar with the Silvermedal at the International Exhibition in San Francisco in 1915. Witsen showed his admiration for Jan Poortenaar by purchasing some of his works and more specificly once stating:"This lad is a better etcher than I am". Like Witsen, Poortenaar makes 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 traveled extensively, accompanying his first wife Geertruida van Vladeracken who performed as a singer/reciter. This enabled Poortenaar to exhibit in many capitols of Europe. Eventually this led to a concert tour in Indonesia. From 1922 to 1925 Poortenaar executed another major series of large etchings, this time covering the Indonesian landscape. Exotic Serimpi-dancers and Wajang-players inspired him to render colourful works in oil and in watercolours (Works from this period are to be sold as the Jan Poortenaar Collection part II, in the Indonesian sale to be held, on October 19, 1994.) As an author Poortenaar was a well-known Rembrandt-interpretor. His appreciation for Rembrandt showed clearly in the publications of 'Rembrandt, zijn Kunst en zijn Leven' and 'Rembrandt als Etser'. Other books published for and send by a wide audience are: 'Hollandse etsers van de Gouden Eeuw' and 'Schilders van het Hollandse 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 talent, zijn werklust, zijn tot experimenteeren neigenden geest en zijn ruime belangstelling een opmerkelijke persoonlijkheid in onze kunstwereld geworden is." (op.cit.p.13)

Details

Jan Poortenaar (1886-1958)

Studies for De Beurs Amsterdam, Herengracht, De Magere Brug (2x), Montelbaanstoren, Cuneatoren Rhenen, Belfort Brugge, Amiens Cathedral, Rheims Cathedral, Louvre Poort, Pont Royal and twelve further drawings of landscapes and town-views either executed in pencil, black or red chalk, all unframed
73 x 55 cm and smaller;

and Twelve etchings of De Beurs Amsterdam, Herengracht, De Magere Brug, Handelskade, Onder het Viaduct, Westelijk Viaduct Amsterdam, Hoek Leidsegracht, Belfort Brugge, Amiens Cathedral, Rheims Cathedral and Louvre Poort (35)

Lot Essay

The sketches of De Beurs Amsterdam, Herengracht, De Magere Brug, Belfort Brugge, Amiens Cathedral, Rheims Cathedral and Louvre Poort are preliminary studies for the etchings of the same subject also included in this lot

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