Kees Verwey - Large charcoal drawing made in 1942 "sad clown" signed

• Large charcoal drawing on paper, made in 1942 by the famous Haarlem painter Kees Verwey (1900 - 1995). Signed and dated lower left - Dimensions incl. frame 85 x 60cm (HxW). In good condition. Origin: collection Jan de Wit.

'No one can live entirely on their own strength. An indispensable bond with the great minds around us is necessary. In order to conquer a place of their own nonetheless'. Inspired by this statement by the painter himself, the Dordrechts Museum shows the art of Kees Verwey in the context of his sources of inspiration.
Kees Verwey (1900 – 1995) grew up in a culture-loving family, surrounded by the artistic vanguard of the early 20th century. He learned to paint; went to the academy and took lessons in Haarlem, with the painter Henri Frédéric Boot.
Verwey worked in a late-impressionist style, after the war his art became more expressionist. Portraits, flower still lifes and studio interiors are among his most important subjects.
Verwey consciously allowed himself to be influenced by the artists he admired. The impact this had on his work and his development is central to this exhibition. During his life, which spanned almost a century, the artist experienced various trends in painting. Verwey regularly used the work of others to add depth to his own paintings.
At a young age the artist came into contact with the work of George Breitner, Floris Verster and Willem Witsen. Verster's work in particular made an indelible impression. The work of French (post-)impressionists such as Pierre Bonnard and Edouard Vuillard also had an impact, particularly on Verwey's watercolours.
Shortly after the Second World War, Verwey was captivated by the work of the Cobra movement with artists such as Karel Appel and Constant. Cubists such as Pablo Picasso and George Braque inspired him later in his career to experiment with abstract painting. The work of these and other artists opened up new paths for the painter, visible in paintings in varying styles. Sober or exuberant in colour, in a coarse, spontaneous brushstroke, striking line or a meticulous gesture. Surrounded by his sources of inspiration, the enormous skill and versatility of the painter Verwey becomes inescapably clear.