Kees van Urk - The harvest

The painting is a pastel placed in a passe-partout behind glass with a narrow clear wooden frame. The Harvest takes place in Blaricum.
Cornelis van URK (1895 - 1976) Cees van Urk (best known as Kees van Urk) was born on March 26, 1895 in Leiden. He studied at the Hague Art Academy and was a student of the painter and etcher MW vd Valk. In Leiden, together with others, he founded the art circle "De Sphinx", which organized various exhibitions of Leiden artists. Van Urk was chairman of this association for some time. He came into contact with other people, including Piet Mondriaan, Rietveld (the architect), Van Doesburg. Later he came to Blaricum and became a member of the artists' association "De Tien" founded by August Legras. Van Urk exhibited in Rotterdam, Haarlem, Arnhem and his works were even exhibited in Vienna, Paris and Warsaw. The National Print Room has etchings, lithographs and watercolors made by Van Urk in its collections. His entire life was devoted to his art and he strove for true insight and perfection, both in his art and in daily life. He researched and tested all kinds of artistic expressions and styles and succeeded in bringing them into his own personal form in his work. Van Urk had his own gallery “de Ark” in Blaricum at Zwaluwenweg 4, because he did not want to be tied to a gallery owner. In certain episodes in his life these styles are clearly recognizable, such as those of 19th century painters such as Turner in the light-drenched landscapes. Or later Cubism and sometimes also that of the Oriental, Japanese and Chinese art forms. Nevertheless, he did not lose his "individuality". He strove for simplicity. At the end of his life he made many religiously symbolic representations, often in pastel and with an extremely balanced color scheme. Cees van Urk died on September 3, 1976 in his home/studio in Blaricum, built by Rietveld.