Gallery

Johan Hendrik van Mastenbroek (1875-1945)

Are this Canadian soldiers returning home after the liberation in 1945? It may be, but this seems unlikely because Johan Hendrik van Mastenbroek dies in November of that year. The decisive answer brings Mr. J. A. Tappel from Assen, father of art historian Drs. Gonny Tappel (also our framer). He recognizes in the silhouettes marines in their so-called tropical-debarkementstenue that was used between 1916 and 1938. According to him, the marines carry a Mannlicher M 95 rifle.

So this drawing is a historical representation of a pre-war situation. Van Mastenbroek paints in oil and watercolours, draws and etches the activity in the ports (especially Rotterdam), river and city views, as well as floods, closing dikes (including the Afsluitdijk) and, for example, the destruction by bombing. He is also dedicated to the victims. He is (board)member of various artists' associations, which shows his socio-organizational involvement. Van Mastenbroek therefore receives a series of royal honors, medals, honorary mentions and commemorative medals.

Johan Hendrik van Mastenbroek is the son of a paint and art dealer, so he's been in contact with painting very young. He follows from 1887 evening classes at the Academy in Rotterdam. At the age of 18 he comes through his father in contact with two London art dealers, who offer him a contract and exhibit his paintings in London and later in New York. In London he meets his wife, with whom he is going to live in Rotterdam.

His work sells so well that he can build a detached villa with 13 rooms and a studio in Scheveningen, in 1911. Here he finds peace and space to work, while the steam tram brings him quickly in his beloved Rotterdam. During the war he must evacuate, and so he lives during his last years in Rotterdam again. Van Mastenbroek, an deeply moved and successful impressionist painter and so-called 'documentary artist', is buried here.