Kees Verwey

The Haarlem painter Kees Verwey at work in his studio on the Spaarne, aged 80. Kees Verwey (April 20, 1900 – July 23, 1995) was a Dutch painter who was productive well into old age.

Biography

He was born in Amsterdam and was the nephew of the poet Albert Verwey and the architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage. According to the RKD he was a pupil of Henri Frédéric Boot, Johannes Hendricus Jurres, and Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita. He was heavily influenced by the Hague School and Impressionism. His big break came in 1931 when his work was exhibited along with that of other contemporary Haarlem artists (such as Hendrik van den Eijnde). The exhibition was held in the newly created Modern art gallery of the Frans Hals Museum located behind the main museum (today the gallery for the schutterstukken). He was a member of the Haarlem artist society "Kunst Zij Ons Doel", the "Kennemer Kunstenaarskring, and "Hollandse Aquarellistenkring".

His pupils were Mieke Burgers-Witteveen, Jules Chapon, Joop Dam (1922–1997), Jan Engelman, Henk Fonville, Frans Funke, Jan van Geem, Cor Hak, Kees de Jager, Hugo Liebe, Henk van der Linden, Hanne Meijer-de Heer, Jan Michels, Wim Steijn, and Karla Wenckebach. He died in Haarlem.