Anton Pieck (1895-1987) - Passiebloemen

Anton Pieck:
19/04/1895 Born in Den Helder.
1901 At the age of six, drawing lessons with J.B. Mulders in Den Helder.
11/04/1906 First prize at a domestic arts exhibition (Still life, watercolor).
14/05/1906 The Pieck family moved to The Hague.
1909 At fourteen he achieved his first acting drawing...
1912 ... and three years later his second: he was now a drawing teacher.
1912 - 1920 Drawing teacher at the institute "Blik en Vaandrager" in The Hague
1922 Married to Jo van Poelvoorde
1920 - 1960 40 years as drawing teacher at the Kennemer Lyceum in Overveen
1960 Retirement, and all the time to devote to his passions: drawing, etching and painting
24/11/1987 Died at the age of 92 in Overveen

As a drawing teacher
Anton Pieck was born on 19 April 1895 in Den Helder. Already at a young age he received drawing lessons: when he was six he apprenticed with his twin brother Henri under J.B. Mulders in Den Helder. The drawing lessons bore fruit quickly: in 1906 – he was ten – he won a prize at a domestic arts exhibition. As a reward for his still life he received five tubes of watercolors and a fixing spray. In 1906 the family moved to The Hague and the drawing instruction continued there. When Anton Pieck was 14, he earned his first certificate, at 17 his second. Afterwards he became a drawing teacher. He began teaching at the institute where he himself had trained: Bik en Vaandrager. During the First World War Anton Pieck was stationed as a sergeant in Amersfoort and The Hague. The time in Amersfoort left deep marks on the artist’s work. He wandered through the old town in his spare time and got to know it well. Many drawings and etchings from that period bear witness to it. In that town he taught drawing to soldiers in his later years there. In 1920 he became a drawing teacher at Kennemer Lyceum in Overveen. Besides his school work, he created his own work in the spare time he had. He would remain there until his retirement in 1960.

His marriage
In 1922 Pieck married Jo van Poelvoorde. From their marriage three children were born, namely Elsa, Anneke and Max. His wife died in 1983, their son Max three years later.

After his retirement
At his retirement in 1960 Pieck was knighted in the Order of Orange-Nassau and twenty years later promoted to Officer. Only when he stopped working could he again set his own schedule. He celebrated the freedom he gained then by painting two beacons on a tin plate. He was able to enjoy twenty-seven more years of freedom.

Past as inspiration
The past, especially the 19th century, inspired Anton Pieck. He never fully engaged with the world around him; like a romantic loner in a hurried society, he stood outside his time. On one hand his work is characterized by an idealized past; on the other, he let himself loose in the world of legends and fairy tales. His work is full of humor; romantic irony and humorous scenes seemed tailor-made for Pieck. He possessed an inexhaustible source of ideas and had an eye for detail and nuance. It is impressive to see how many works the sympathetic artist left behind. Free weekends were rare indeed. Pieck worked seven days a week, mornings, afternoons and evenings. He had little attention for newspapers, radio and television.

After a productive life, Anton Pieck passed away on 24 November 1987 at the age of 92 in Overveen. Thus a great artist left us.

This lot contains a beautiful lithograph of Passionflowers, made by Anton Pieck himself. Size; 49.3 x 30.8 cm. A wonderful lithograph that bears Pieck’s famous signature in the bottom right. The title and signature have faded. The lithograph is professionally mounted in a acid-free mat board. A splendid work of art.

This artwork will be packaged with maximum protection and sent to the new owner by registered mail.