Piet van der Hem

Leeuwarden, Fries Museum, Piet van der Hem 1885-1961, February - April 1987, p. 39, no. 42, illustrated

This work is in very good condition. The work is professionally mounted along the extreme edges to the paper which is mounted to the card. There is some paper discolouration. Otherwise this work is in very good condition.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

From 1912 to1914 Piet van der Hem travelled through Europe and lived for short periods of time in Paris, Rome and Madrid. He was fascinated by the glamour of the Paris nightlife, the typical Italian cafés and the Spanish bullfighting, the corrida's together with Leo Gestel who accompanied him in Madrid. Aspects of the surroundings important to him included the costumes and the activities of the people. The whole mood of the works suggested the pleasure, relaxation and fun. A typical example is lot 2, Dansfeest in Spaanse Herberg (Olé, olé, olé, olé) where Piet van der Hem captured a small part of the characteristic Spanish culture. In lot 3 Zondagmiddagwandeling Hem depicted an everyday activity in the for him such striking spontaneous and sketchy manner. During these years Van der Hem developed a personal loose style that can be recognised in all of his works as in lot 5 De Kleedkamer we can see that the figures have taken on a slightly more prominent place in the foreground.

Apart from a painter of urban life, Van der Hem was also acclaimed as a painter of birds and wild animals. He was fond of hunting and was often inspired by long walking trips. Lot 4 Elanden was very much influenced by such a long walk. 

Although influenced by the French impressionists, Piet van der Hem is more of a realist with an exceptional sense for colours. Hem felt besides his love for figurative realism a need for public support so gradually he moved towards drawing light-hearted, elegant scenes and powerful figure drawings. Lot 1 Vrouw op Sofa is a beautiful example of  Hem's anecdotal and spontanous style.