| Antonie Gerardus de Jong Nederlandse_taal
Dutch Painter - 2nd Generation The Hague School, later Dutch Impressionist 1860-1932 | de Jong Gallery | Background de Jong Contemporaries |
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Artistic Belonging
The Hague School was formed about 1860 by a group of Dutch painters who followed the French Barbizon School of Realism.
These artists rejected the Romantic era, where life was depicted in a perfect, often opulent way - and moved towards a realistic view of life.
Rather than sitting in their studios, these artists went out into the countryside to portray life as it really was.
Because much of the landscape in the Netherlands was influenced by the grays of the North Sea and the grays of the
overhead skies, the Hague School was sometimes called the Gray School.
Indeed, artists sought the "perfect" gray color that was warm, yet realistic. An important aspect of gray was the effect of light,
another characteristic of The Hague School.
Artists of The Hague School created the Pulchri Studio as a means to exhibit and sell their paintings directly to the public.
Artists had to apply for membership in the Pulchri Studio. If accepted, members were entitled to display their works as well as connect with other members, which
included artists and art dealers.
Antonie de Jong's birth, in 1860, coincided with the beginnings of The Hague School. de Jong was trained in the Royal Academy of Drawing in the mid-1870s where he learned the techniques of earlier Dutch masters. His artistic promise was in evidence has he received honors and a gold medal during his studies.
After completing his training at the Royal Academy, de Jong went to work in the studio of Willem Maris, one of The Hague School leaders at that time.
It should be noted that de Jong was 9 to 43 years younger than the noted Hague School artists; as such, he was considered an early member of the "second generation" of Hague School artists.
While working in Maris' studio, de Jong was accepted to the Pulchri Studio where he regularly exhibited and sold his work.
de Jong was greatly influenced by his mentor, Willem Maris, who painted
meadow landscapes with willows and ditches, cows in natural settings, and later ducks and chickens. Maris' painting went through 3 stages:
1) exact reproduction of the surroundings;
2) focus on color, using saturated shades of green; and
3) use of broader strokes.
Notably, Maris' lively use of color distinguished him from the 'gray mood' of his contemporaries; Maris was often called the 'impressionist' of the Hague School.
You can see Maris' influence (realism, subject matter, added color) in de Jong's paintings below.
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