Jan Verkade

Painter Jan Verkade, who later changed his name to Father Willibrord, was a well-known Dutch Post-impressionist and Christian Symbolist.

He was born into a religious Mennonite family. In 1877, the family moved to Amsterdam; Jan and his twin brother were sent to a religious boarding school in Oisterwijk.

A student of Paul Gauguin, he belonged to a circle of artists known as the “Pont-Aven School”, had close ties with the Nabi group and was one of the most progressive painters of his time in his country. He was the leader of the art school at Beuron Abbey, participated in the painting of temples throughout Europe and had a great influence on the further development of the new Benedictine art.

Key ideas:

– Despite the fact that Jan Verkade spent most of his life in a Catholic monastery, he was an active participant in the Post-impressionist art movement that originated in France. For some time, Verkade lived in Port-Aven, a famous artistic settlement, where Paul Gauguin himself created his canvases, was friends and worked with many members of the Nabi group, traveled a lot, studying the works of old masters and creating his own, original and bright canvases. He also translated religious literature and wrote articles on visual arts.

– Verkade’s few paintings are landscapes and still lifes, made in the style close to that of Nabis, with the use of decorative planes, winding lines, rich colors and the absence of semitones. The artist deliberately refuses the correct design and composition in favor of a simplified image of nature, the same as the artist saw directly.

– Jan Verkade devoted a lot of time to wall paintings and frescoes. He believed that art is not limited to paintings, but should be of practical use. He is the author of the phrase “Down with easel painting!”, which became a kind of the motto of Post-impressionists.