Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pieter Claesz
As well as portraits, genre
paintings and landscapes, still lives
had an important place in Dutch
17th-century art. Peter Claesz
(1597-1661) reached a peak of
technical skill in his harmonious if
academic compositions, which are
replete with symbolic detail.
Top 10 Dutch Literary
Figures
Desiderius Erasmus
Scholar and humanist
(1466-1536). Friend of Thomas
More, no friend of Luther.
Hugo Grotius
Statesman and
philosopher (1583-1645).
Author of
De Jure Belli et
Pacis
, the foundation stone
of international law.
Vincent van Gogh
A troubled genius who left a
vast body of work, despite his
tragically short life
(see p19)
.
Gerbrant Bredero
Satirical poet and play-
wright (1585-1618), best
known for
De Spaanse
Brabander
.
Piet Mondriaan
Although he lived in London,
Paris and New York (and few of
his works are on show in
Amsterdam), Mondriaan was
born and grew up in Holland
(1872-1944). A leading member
of the De Stijl movement, he
created an abstract style using
the simplest elements: straight
lines and blocks of primary
colour, arranged on the canvas to
create harmony and balance.
Joost van den Vondel
Important playwright and
poet (1586-1679) famed for
his ornate style. Author of
Gijsbrecht van Amstel
.
Jan Six
Poet, playwright (1618-
1700) and friend of Rembrandt,
who painted his portrait.
Baruch Spinoza
Philosopher (1632-77)
expelled by Amsterdam's
Jewish community for his
secular beliefs.
Karel Appel
Born in 1921, Karel Appel
was one of the founders of the
Cobra movement, started in
1948, which combined
expressionist, abstract and
surrealist influences
(see p128)
.
His colourful works display a
savage, forceful directness
combined with an almost childlike
optimism. ”I paint like a barbarian
in a barbarous age , he said.
Multatuli
Pen name of Eduard
Douwes Dekker (1820-87),
whose work in colonial Java
inspired his best-known novel
Max Havelaar
.
Anne Frank
Teenage victim (1929-44)
of the Holocaust. Her eloquent
diary has sold in its millions.
Gerard Reve
Novelist (b.1923) strongly
influenced by his Catholicism
and his homosexuality.
Cees Nooteboom
Prolific man of letters
(b.1933) whose fiction is at
best observant and poignant,
at worst experimental and
elusive.
Children with Dog
by Karel Appel
47
