Life and Work of Jaap Schreurs (1913-1983) Painter and father |
|
|
|
|
 Jaap's father and mother ±1945 |
Already in his early years, Jaap's pronounced musical and artistic talents were apparent. The apple did not fall far from the tree, as almost all family members were artistically gifted. On his twelfth birthday, Jaap received a piano from his parents with the aim of preparing him for a professional career as a pianist. His teacher was concert pianist Kerbijn. However, when Kerbijn committed suicide a few years later, Jaap no longer wanted to accept another teacher for his piano training. Nevertheless he diligently kept up his piano playing skills and in our youth his finger exercises were a daily recurring sound at home.
|
Work by Jaap's father
Jaap's father designed and maintained the elaborate ceilings of several monumental buildings in The Hague. He was also a painter and violin maker. Jaap's older half-brothers were also artistically gifted. Almost all of them drew and painted.
|
Ceiling design for a client |
|
Their home was always open for other young people, usually artistically gifted and often a little lost, who inspired each other with their work and conversations.
The Biesbosch, oil on canvas |
Scating in Winter, |
|
 |
Clearing in the woods, pencil on paper |
Jaap’s choice for painting |
friend Willem van Beekum (left) and |
Within the context of this family, there was plenty of room for Jaap to develop himself in an artistic direction. Understandably, his parents expected a lot of him. From the age of 17 he devoted himself completely to painting despite the fact that he was already blind in one eye.
In retrospect, we can well imagine that his somewhat shy character made him hesitate at the thought of performing in front of a larger audience
|
The bay window in his parental home, drawn by Jaap India ink on paper ± 1943 |
|
1934-1942 |
|
studio and training |
1913-1983 |
|
access to all periods |
2019 |
by Nelleke and Paula |
|