David Kouwenaar - Bijzondere in1962 geschilderde Gouache "Duiven" in originele lijst - Sold

• From 1927, the son of NRC journalist David Kouwenaar, who was born in Amsterdam, lived with his parents, younger brother Gerrit and sister Jeltje, in the summer at the Doorntjes in Bergen. The Ten Holt family lived in the same lane, three members of which would leave a lasting mark on David: the painter Henri ten Holt and his sons Friso and Simeon. The three boys became lifelong friends; father Henri gave David and Friso drawing lessons around 1935. The Academy trained the talented pair to become professional painters; Simeon, the passionate musician, would make a name for himself with his masterly compositions.

Fracture For David, who settled in Bergen in 1941, the war was a break in his development as an artist. His handsome, naturalistic self-portraits from before 1940 failed to impress after the war. Kouwenaar was captivated by the new artistic experiments of the Cobra movement, among others. With fellow members of the KCB such as Jaap Mooy and Jaap de Carpentier, he took part in an 'offensive' exhibition in De Taverne, which had to be closed by order of the then mayor Huygens. The non-conformist Kouwenaar was also present at the 'discussing' entry into the Amsterdam Stedelijk Museum by poet-painter Lucebert, the 'Emperor of the Vijftigers'. With sculptor Jaap Mooy he acted as 'vassal' of 'Emperor Lucebert'. In March 1946, David married the talented sculptor Jeanne Bijlo. The artist couple had two daughters: Daphne, who started painting and Janine, who chose dance as an art form. Exhibitions Once in calmer artistic waters, the permanently boyish David painted life close to home ('Limited view'): Jeanne, his beautiful garden, girls on bicycles, his art friends, the sea and the dunes. And all that with light shades in smooth lines. Kouwenaar's work was in great demand. When Jeanne, after years of creative activity, needed a lot of care due to serious illness, David laid down his brushes. Jeanne passed away in August 2000. David Kouwenaar has often been able to exhibit his work. In 1991 there was a wonderful overview exhibition at three locations. The most recent duo exhibition by David and Jeanne was at the beginning of 2011 in Museum Kranenburgh. The work and initiatives of the much-deplored David Kouwenaar and his two art brothers have proved to be of lasting significance to Bergen and its culture.