Lot 360
  • 360

Willem Dooijewaard

Estimate
350,000 - 550,000 HKD
bidding is closed

Description

  • Willem Dooijewaard
  • Man with Cockerel
  • Signed
  • Oil on canvas
  • 67 by 55.5 cm.; 26 1/4 by 21 3/4 in.

Provenance

Private Collection, USA

Condition

The work is in good condition overall, as is the canvas, which is clear and taut. Upon close observation, there is evidence of a minute area of paint loss on the blue sarong and calf of the figure. Examination under ultraviolet light shows no sign of restoration. Framed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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."

Catalogue Note

Praised as an adventurous painter, Willem Dooijewaard set out and journeyed afar from Amsterdam, where he was born, to places such as south of France and Japan in search of inspiration for his paintings. At the very beginning of the twentieth century, Dooijewaard displayed great determination in enduring long, difficult trips to all corners of the world with the overwhelming urge and passion to paint. Man With Cockerel is a painting executed during his painting journey to Bali, Indonesia.

Intending to document his observations and experiences with sketches and paintings, Man With Cockerel exemplifies Dooijewaard’s fluid impressionistic brushwork that suggest rather than describe reality. The abstract backdrop in various shades of green and earth tones extricates the Javanese man from the allusion of a specific scene or location. In fact, Dooijewaard was unique in the way he emphasized particular details such as gestures, facial expressions, postures and the attire of the various cultures and people that he came across during his sojourns abroad. Evident in the artist’s distinctively impressionistic style is the clear influence from the French Impressionistic painters during his time. The technique he employed identified him as one of the more ‘avant-garde’ artists at the turn of the century. Furthermore, the use of a naturalistic colour palette is a common device employed by the impressionist masters—a technique derived from the French Chemist Chevreul in the mid-19th century.

Although Dooijewaard only passed through places as a wayfarer, his dedication to painting demonstrated by the present lot Man with Cockerel has undeniably left a mark in history.