J.H.W. (JAN) WITTENBERG

Biography

J.H.W. (JAN) WITTENBERG
1886 's-Gravenhage - 1963 Ede

Jan Wittenberg was born on 30th January 1886 in The Hague and died on 19th September 1963 in Ede (Gelderland). He developed into a particularly skilled and accomplished artist, despite his parents' initial reluctance towards the artistic profession.

Wittenberg first attended evening classes at The Hague Academy and worked briefly as a clerk at a tax office. In 1908 he worked for six months at the studio of Floris Arntzenius. From 1907-1910 he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in The Hague under the guidance of Fr. Jansen and A. van den Berg, and later received advice from W.A. van Konijnenburg (1910-1913). He received the royal subsidy for fine art in 1912, 1913 and 1914.

Wittenberg lived and worked successively in The Hague (until 1914), Zierikzee, Dordrecht (until 1916), Rhoon (until 1918), Dordrecht (until 1920), Zwartewaal, Poortugaal, Doorn and finally Bennekom. In 1916 he married the artist W.M.J. Schmid. From 1920-1927 he taught at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rotterdam.

Wittenberg specialised in finely painted, restrained works in small formats. He created primarily still lifes, portraits (particularly of children and babies), landscapes and had a particular preference for animals, especially birds. His work is often compared to that of Jan Mankes due to the similar simplicity, refinement and choice of vulnerable subjects. Besides painting, he also created many prints, lithographs and woodcuts. Only approximately 300 of his works are known, which makes his painted work extremely rare.