Dorus Art (1901 -1961) - Meisjesportret

Beautiful portrait of a girl.

Oil on panel.

Dorus Arts was born into a poor peasant family. During his school years the family moved to Nijmegen to start a dairy business there. His talent was recognized at a young age, but his family lacked the means to provide him with targeted training to become a painter. In 1916 his father enrolled him as a pupil in the painting department of the Ambachtschool in Nijmegen. His drawing teacher Van Hooydonk connected him with painters in the Nijmegen region. In 1924 he became a member of the Nijmegen art circle "In Consten Eén", which later continued under the name Nijmeegs Genootschap van Beeldende Kunstenaars. Through this circle he met, among others, the painters Toorop, Hamilton-Falise, Lücker, Van Mourik and Hammes. The members of the circle had the opportunity to exhibit in the Waaggebouw, and in that monumental space Arts’s works hung regularly.

He made a name for himself with his beautiful landscapes that he painted especially in Gelderland, Limburg and Brabant. His ominous skies, boggy fens, proud trees and sun-drenched country lanes convey a hushed atmosphere. Particularly striking and unique are the mysterious landscapes by moonlight. He felt an intimate connection with the nature of his birthplace. The landscape was, throughout his life, the main theme of his work. From 1928 Arts also trained in figure and portrait studies and received commissions to produce portraits.

Dorus Arts married W. Maria Mijling in 1929. Seven children were born from the marriage. Although he was very productive as a painter, financially the 1930s crisis did not go well for him. In the years of World War II the Arts family barely kept their heads above water. Slowly but surely plans took shape to start anew overseas. Dutch scenes in the style of the Hague School were very popular abroad in the early 1950s. In Dorus Arts’s work dealers recognized this style. After his eldest son Marcus had gone ahead of them, Dorus and Mien Arts emigrated with the other children to Canada in 1955. The first years went smoothly. His sons built in their house near Montreal a studio overlooking the Saint Lawrence River. In his work from that period a homesickness for the Netherlands shines through, especially the fens, polders, hills and forests around Nijmegen. Due to deteriorating health (swollen joints and rheumatic fevers) his diligence waned. He died as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage.