Kees Bol

Cornelis "Kees" Bol (21 September 1916 – 16 September 2009) was a Dutch painter and art educator. His work was exhibited in art galleries and museums throughout the Netherlands, as well as in Paris. Bol's work encompassed landscapes, portraits and still life paintings. His style can be described as figurative and expressive, with a specific feeling for tonal quality. In 1950 Bol was awarded the Thérèse van Duyl-Schwartze Prize and in 1982 he was made Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion.

Biography Bol was born in Oegstgeest. Initially he was a florist in his home town. After moving to Eindhoven in 1935, he held corporate jobs at Bata Shoes and Philips. In 1941 he married Toos van 't Hof. During the second world war he turned to art, first studying with Jan Heesters and later on at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague with Paul Citroen, Han van Dam and Henk Meijer. In 1947 he moved to Tongelre, Eindhoven where he worked as a painter and taught at the Design Academy Eindhoven which he helped set up. Around that time Bol shared a studio with René Smeets, the first chair of the Design Academy Eindhoven.

In 1970 he moved to Heusden. He also spent considerable time painting in France, mostly in Lozère.

At the Design Academy Eindhoven, back at the Royal Academy of Art and in his studio Bol educated scores of art students, among whom Helen Berman, Frans Clement, Els Coppens-van de Rijt, Frank Dekkers, Frank Letterie, Har Sanders, and Hans van Vroonhoven. Two of his sons, Henri (1945-2000) and Peter (1947-2024), have also become accomplished visual artists.

Opposite what had been his home and studio from 1947 in Eindhoven, a park was named in his honor. This park contains Bol's bust. On 7 October 1991 the Dutch broadcaster NCRV aired a special about the painter.