Though Jozef Israels worked in Katwijk in the 1850’s, the artists’ colony reached its peak between 1880 and 1910. The hard and intensive fishermen’s life was a great source of inspiration for artists from many countries in West and East Europe, even Asia and the USA.
After a period of Romanticism, they painted mostly in a realistic style until a new generation stood up and brought a whiff of Modernism to the village. Painters from the Hague School such as Bernard Blommers and Jan Zoetelief Tromp worked in Katwijk, Max Liebermann was there as well, like his compatriot Hans von Bartels. The charismatic and committed artist Jan Toorop lived in the village from 1890 till 1892 and from 1899 till 1904, painting and drawing pointillist and symbolist works.
Pictures:
Top: German Grobe (1857-1938), Fishermen selling fish in front of the old church in Katwijk
Bottom: Willy Sluiter (1873-1949), Fisherman in Kawijk
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