Johan Briedé (1885-1980) 'Blooming thistles with a bumblebee'

About this piece

Beautiful oil painting of blooming thistles with a bumblebee; it's the kind of still life that isn't often seen. Johan Briedé chose to depict a small piece of nature up close, still recognizable, but the colours and composition have become as important as the subject itself.

Yet, you immediately sense the atmosphere, the dunes, the sea, summer, sun, and then that little bumblebee hard at work.

The thick, pasty manner in which Johan Briedé painted this still life is stunning and remains captivating to look at, just like the various colour shades of the blooming thistles alongside the various tones of white, ivory, and yellow of the sand with the delicate green of the marram grass woven through.

Briedé painted this work in 1936 with oil on paper later mounted on canvas (marouflé). He signed and dated it in the lower right corner. The painting is framed.

Biography:

Johan Briedé (Rotterdam, 1885 - Amsterdam, 1980) was a Dutch artist who also worked under the name J.B. de Chateauroux. A student of Willem van Konijnenburg, Chris Lebeau, Geraldo Abraham Brender à Brandis, and L.W.R. Wenckebach. He painted, drew, watercoloured, and lithographed. Additionally, he was a talented illustrator.

He is best known for his paintings in his own impressionistic style. Briedé's work is characterized by his unique use of colour, compositions, and subject choices, primarily focused on nature.

After studying at the Art Academy in Rotterdam and The Hague, and the School of Applied Arts in Amsterdam and Haarlem, Briedé began his artistic career. In 1916, he moved to Laren, where he lived until 1959. He enjoyed travelling, and his journeys inspired his work.

He quickly became a prominent figure in the Dutch art scene, particularly known for his innovative approach to painting.

Throughout his life, Briedé had numerous exhibitions in the Netherlands and abroad. His works are included in various museums and private collections, always admired for their originality and artistic quality.

Briedé was a versatile artist who not only painted but was also active as a graphic artist and sculptor. His work ranges from landscapes and portraits to abstract compositions but is always recognizable by his unique style and personal approach. He had a fondness for water lilies, which he painted frequently, but other aquatic plants also interested him.

Although influenced by various art movements, Briedé always maintained his own voice. His art reflects his inner world, translating feelings and emotions into colour and form.

Johan Briedé passed away in Amsterdam in 1980, but his artistic legacy lives on. His work is included in various museum collections such as the Drents Museum, Singer Museum in Laren, Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, Maritiem Museum in Rotterdam, Naturalis in Leiden, and the Rijksprentenkabinet in Amsterdam.

Literature:

• Benezit; Dictionary of Artists, Volume 2, Édition Gründ, Paris 2006. P. 1245.
• Maandblad voor Beeldende Kunsten, 1933, an extensive article by Johan Schwencke with seven images.
• Bram Huijser, Johan Briedé, a gifted artist, Boekenpost 84, July-August 2006.
• Marja Keyzer, Johan Briedé, graphic artist in the Art Deco style, Bulletin Stichting Drukwerk in de Marge no. 21, 1993.

Condition

Very good