Lot 35: Jan van der Zee (1898-1988) , Composition

signed with the initials and dated 23 oil on board

32 by 40 cm.

H. Steenbruggen a.o., De Ploeg (5): Jan van der Zee 1898-1988, Groningen 1999, p. 22, illustration of the publication The Next Call in which this work was illustrated

Private collection, The Netherlands

As the work by artists from Groningen in the first half of the 20th century show, expressionism was in full development. The constructivist movements, following the movement De Stijl, were locally not very highly rated. Only artist such as Hendrik Werkman, Wobbe Alkema en Jan van der Zee made their first constructivist work in 1923. The contact between the three artist were close but they did develop their own personal style. Werkman published in 1923 The Next Call, a magazine to promote avant-garde movements such as Dada and Constructivism. In the seventh issue, Werkman included a composition by Jan van der Zee from 1923, this is the work which is offered today for sale. As Van der Zee destroyed many of these constructivist works, and repainted them in the 1960?s, it is with pride that we offer this original and rare work by his hand.