Jan van Heel (1898-1990) - De Clown





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Jan van Heel (1898–1990), De Clown, oil painting, original, hand-signed, sold with frame, produced in the Netherlands during 1980–1990, 103 x 73 cm.
Description from the seller
Jan van Heel was a Dutch painter from Rotterdam, later residing in The Hague. He studied art in Rotterdam and began his career as a teacher before dedicating himself entirely to painting. Van Heel is considered part of the Nieuwe Haagse School, known for its refined realism and warm use of color.
His work evolved from moderately expressionist to more personal compositions at the intersection of figuration and abstraction. Recurring themes include circus figures, clowns, and landscapes, often with a melancholic undertone. Travels to Paris and Spain greatly influenced his color palette and compositions.
In this painting, Van Heel depicts a clown — a motif that often symbolizes the tragedy and vulnerability of human existence in his oeuvre. The figure emerges from a dark, almost chaotic background, where deep earth tones are punctuated by bright accents of red, blue, and yellow. These color contrasts create an intense dramatic effect: the laughing mouth and red nose seem to almost float in the darkness.
The paint is applied thickly and expressively, with bold strokes and rough textures that enhance the emotional charge of the work. The clown is not merely a circus figure but a metaphor — a mask that expresses both joy and loneliness.
Dimensions with frame: 103 x 73 cm
Dimensions without frame: 100 x 70 cm
Viewing is, of course, possible. Additionally, we have our own in-house framing workshop, which is celebrating its 85th anniversary. Furthermore, we collaborate with restorers from the professional organization: 'Restauratoren Nederland'. If you wish to make use of this service, we would of course be happy to hear from you.
Seller's Story
Jan van Heel was a Dutch painter from Rotterdam, later residing in The Hague. He studied art in Rotterdam and began his career as a teacher before dedicating himself entirely to painting. Van Heel is considered part of the Nieuwe Haagse School, known for its refined realism and warm use of color.
His work evolved from moderately expressionist to more personal compositions at the intersection of figuration and abstraction. Recurring themes include circus figures, clowns, and landscapes, often with a melancholic undertone. Travels to Paris and Spain greatly influenced his color palette and compositions.
In this painting, Van Heel depicts a clown — a motif that often symbolizes the tragedy and vulnerability of human existence in his oeuvre. The figure emerges from a dark, almost chaotic background, where deep earth tones are punctuated by bright accents of red, blue, and yellow. These color contrasts create an intense dramatic effect: the laughing mouth and red nose seem to almost float in the darkness.
The paint is applied thickly and expressively, with bold strokes and rough textures that enhance the emotional charge of the work. The clown is not merely a circus figure but a metaphor — a mask that expresses both joy and loneliness.
Dimensions with frame: 103 x 73 cm
Dimensions without frame: 100 x 70 cm
Viewing is, of course, possible. Additionally, we have our own in-house framing workshop, which is celebrating its 85th anniversary. Furthermore, we collaborate with restorers from the professional organization: 'Restauratoren Nederland'. If you wish to make use of this service, we would of course be happy to hear from you.

