Jan Simon Knikker, called Jan, was born in Leiden in 1911, as the son of the well-known painter Jan Knikker senior. He lived and worked in Wassenaar, London and the Hague. He was a student at the Academy of Art in The Hague (1928-1932) and he painted landscapes and cityscapes in a figurative style. He is seen as a follower of the Hague School and he often worked for the art trade. His cityscapes are particularly sought-after in foreign countries. In their own words, modesty was strange to them, Jan Knikker senior and junior represented the well-known Hague School of Maris, Bosboom and Roelofs. That is why Jan Knikker junior stated in a newspaper interview that they focused on landscapes and cityscapes. The later Jan Knikker junior was a totally different man than the Jan Knikker from his youth. Although he still lived as a bon-vivant, he did not dress in a way characteristic of an artist. Jan junior always looked good in the suit, looked well groomed, drank his drink at regular intervals and was very attached to his regular brand of cigars. Until the last years of his life, Jan Knikker junior still had assignments for years. Jan Knikker junior worked exclusively during the day. He thought it was out of the question to paint by artificial light.