Omgeving Johan Dijkstra (XX) - Boer met korenschoof

Splendid portrait of a farmer in an Expressionist style painted in the milieu of Johan Dijkstra and dated 1958. The painting is signed bottom right with the initials "JD" and dated "58". Provenance: GSD Auctions, Zoeterwoude.

Johan Dijkstra

Johan Dijkstra attended the three-year HBS and from 1915 took afternoon classes at the Minerva Academy. In 1919 he received the bronze academy medal for his work. From 1919 to 1920 he studied at the Rijksacademie in Amsterdam, where in 1920 he earned the M.O. Drawing diploma. Johan Dijkstra was among the founders of De Ploeg, but because he resided in Amsterdam he could not participate in the early years. Back in Groningen he supported himself by making illustrations and advertising work. In April 1923 Dijkstra, together with Altink and Wiegers, organized the first lustrum celebration of De Ploeg at Blauwbörgje, a place just outside the city where many of the Ploeg members painted. From early 1926 to 1940 Dijkstra exhibited almost annually outside Groningen. He also had solo exhibitions in Groningen at Pictura, in Amsterdam and The Hague. Between 1928 and 1940 he held no board positions at De Ploeg, but he did his best to enlarge the membership. In this he had Werkman as an opponent. Since 1930 he wrote reviews for the Provinciale Groninger Courant, through which he became part of the establishment for many.