When I hear "Pieck" I think of the draftsman, etcher, artist (he was also a graphic artist) Anton Franciscus Pieck. Not of his uncle and not of his twin brother who was seen as the artist in his younger years and was accepted at the art academy.
Was this a loss? For me it is just yet another proof that talent, real creativity is not recognized.
Anton became famous. During his military service (First World War) he managed to make 40 etchings in a short time and later he gave drawing lessons to the soldiers.
The drawings I remember most are those of the winter scenes and the ice fun. All his prints are detailed, there is a lot of activity. It is as if you are looking at an ant colony busy. The nostalgia is clear. Not only recognizable in the architecture, the stagecoach, chats with shopkeepers, the children playing in the street but also the presence of our beloved and used animals, each with their own character. The black cat appears several times in the picture.
Was Anton appreciated as an artist? He himself says not. His playful, fairytale-like drawings would have been labelled as childish messing around.
Nevertheless, his images hung in classrooms, were always seen on Christmas cards and on the birthday calendar that hangs in the toilet of every Dutch family.
In addition, his drawings were and are printed on many a biscuit tin (the biscuit tin for with coffee at 10 o'clock in the morning or tea at half past three after school).
Anton illustrated many books including translations and was asked to design a fairytale forest. The introvert was initially not very keen on this but did it when he heard that it was not a temporary project.
This fairytale forest is still in the Efteling (amusement park in Kaatsheuvel in the south of the Netherlands) and as far as I'm concerned the best there is to see.
One of the most famous figures is Holle Bolle Gijs. A fat kid in the Efteling shouting: Here's some paper.
Put your waste (or your hand) in his mouth and he says: Yummy!
An "attraction" for which waste pickers patiently stand in line and laugh out loud. Now that I'm writing this, I can feel how my hand feels in Gijs' throat (Yummy!)
The only thing I can share is videos of Anton Pieck. Anyone who searches will definitely find some of his images (see Pinterest or the links). Anton's detailed drawing reminds me of my grandfather's drawing style. Was it something from that time? My grandfather was born around the same time. There was definitely more attention to detail and there was observation.
Anton's talent for drawing was already recognized at the age of 3, at the age of 6 he took drawing lessons after primary school and those lessons continued (3 hours of drawing lessons per day until 10 pm!).
By the way, he won a prize at the age of 10 and his first "winter fun" was a fact at the age of 11. Nevertheless, he had to fight hard for recognition and he understood at a young age that he had to become financially independent given the financial situation of his parents. At the age of 14, he had completed his art education (and then to think that these days schools refuse 15-16 year olds because they are too young). From the age of 17, he and his twin brother went their own artistic way.
I share "Christmas with Anton Pieck" with you.
I will try to write down and translate the lyrics of the song later. It is not about how great Christmas is but the loneliness around these days and the wish that it would be like Anton Pieck depicted.
The longing for nostalgia for the good old days. This is not only something of old people but more of the sensitive person for whom life goes too fast to keep up.
Anton was not a lover of modern times. Apartment buildings, factories, cars could not fascinate him. He kept the old times alive with activity and given the popularity of his prints to this day, he is clearly not the only one who prefers to dive into the romantic past or the world of fairy tales
I wish my artistic, creative friends and art lovers a creative Midwinter celebration/Christmas/December where I hope that there is an eye for charity and we are not blind to the loneliness of others while we stuff ourselves with food and unpack the mountain of gifts with dissatisfaction.
Shall I set an art prize for the true face of Christmas?
Dear @solperez like you I am not a Canva star and I prefer not to use it. My phone can hardly load the program but here is my greeting to you. I think it suits our interests better. Merry Christmas and thank you for showing all those great painters every week.
Anton Pieck Museum/- Hattum
Anton never lived here and didn't want a museum in the place he lived to avoid visitors stopping by his home and disturb him while at work. He found a museum while still alive a weird idea but eventually helped with the restauration.
21.12.2024
#artonsteemit #art #antonpieck #review #steemexclusive #club75