Jan Rijlaarsdam | Paris painting

Jan Rijlaarsdam (1911-2008) was born in Nieuwkoop, Holland in 1911. He started painting as a young man having attended the Amsterdam Academy of Art. For many years he lived in Hilversum and is regarded as belonging to the "Het Gooi" Artist's Association and the "Het Gooi" school of art. Student of A.G. Hulshof Pol, a wellknown painter and art teacher 1883-1957. Rijlaarsdam also spent a considerable amount of time in Belgium and France. The buildings and street life of Paris were of particular interest to him.

The work of painters of the "Ecole de Paris", such as DeStael and Poliakoff inspired him to paint with a palette knife, which is one of the characteristics of his style. In addition, following the tradition of the "Ecole de Paris" of the 1960's, Rijlaarsdam used subdued colours with stunning black and white contrasts in his paintings.

Rijlaarsdam received a Royal allowance.

Painter of towns, figures, factories and industrial sides at the border of the cities. Jan Rijlaarsdam painted in a figurative style. Member of St. Lucas, an art society in Amsterdam, The Gooise Art Society and the Society of Figurative Art in Hilversum (Vereniging van Beeldende Kunst). Works by Rijlaarsdam in possession of the Singer Museum in Laren.