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FROM THE ESTATE OF HENDRIK WIEGERSMA (1891-1969) Hendrik (Henk) Wiegersma (1891-1969) was the most important collector of Zadkine's work. Son and grandson of a physician, Wiegersma practiced medicine in Deurne. He received many artists and writers at his home, like Moissey Kogan, Jozef Cantré, Constant Permeke and soon he discovered his own vocation as a painter, which was recognized not long after. His expressionist paintings were exhibited for the first time in The Hague in 1925 and later at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam in 1928 and in Brussels at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in 1931. In 1950, Wiegersma was one of the artists to represent The Netherlands at the Biennale in Venice. The activities of Hendrik Wiegersma were not limited to medicine and art, he was also the author of several publications on art related subjects. As a collector Wiegersma focussed on Expressionism. The collection paralleled his activity as a painter from 1923 until 1969, with a peak in painting and collecting during the years 1925-1936. During these years he was eager to explore art and artists around him. He became friends with many of them and acquired the most important paintings of his collection in these years.

Ossip Zadkine (1890-1967)

Double Portrait of Henk and Nel Wiegersma

Details

Ossip Zadkine (1890-1967)
Double Portrait of Henk and Nel Wiegersma
signed 'Zadkine' (on the right side) and with foundry mark 'ANDRO Fondeur' (on the left side)
bronze with a black patina
84 cm. high
Conceived and cast in 1930. This is the only lifetime cast.

Literature

D. Chevalier, Zadkine. Sculptures, Paris 1949 (dated '1935').
R. Cogniat, Zadkine, Paris 1958, p. 14 (dated 1935).
S. Lecombre, Ossip Zadkine l'oeuvre sculpté, Paris 1994, no. 241, p. 285 (plaster illustrated).
T. Hoogbergen, T. Thelen, Hendrik Wiegersma 1891-1969, medicus-pictor, Tilburg 1997, p. 99 (illustrated).
I. Jianou, 'Zadkine l'artiste et le pote', in Journal Artcurial, Paris, May 1979, no. 197 (illustrated, dated 1931).
Garance Chabert, Ron Dirven, Zadkine & Van Gogh, Schiedam 2008, p. 13.

Exhibited

Brussels, Palais des Beaux-Arts, January 1933, no. 111, (dated 1931). Antwerp, Cercle Royal Artistique, 4 - 19 February 1933, no. 30. Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum, April - June 1948, no. 9 (dated 1935). Arnhem, Gemeentemuseum, 28 November 1954 - 30 January 1955, no. 15 (dated 1935).
Deurne, Museum Dinghuis, Ossip Zadkine, 13 January - 31 March 1968, no. 4 (dated 1931).
Paris, Musée Rodin et Musée d'Art moderne de la Ville Paris, Ossip Zadkine, October 1972 - January 1973, no 63 (dated 1931).
Deurne, Kunsthandel Tjerk Wiegersma, 25 January - 10 February 1975, no. 7 (dated 1931).
Paris, Musée Bourdelle, Des artistes à La Coupole, Montparnasse 1918-1940, 1 June - 30 September 1990, no. 18.

Special notice

Artist's Resale Right ("Droit de Suite"). Artist's Resale Right Regulations 2006 apply to this lot, the buyer agrees to pay us an amount equal to the resale royalty provided for in those Regulations, and we undertake to the buyer to pay such amount to the artist's collection agent.

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Alexandra Bots

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Lot Essay

In 1970 Valentine Prax gave permission for another three casts to the Wiegersma family. One of these casts is now in Musée Zadkine in Paris.

Ossip Zadkine and Hendrik Wiegersma were introduced by artist Otto van Rees. Van Rees met Zadkine in Paris. After his return to The Netherlands in 1923 Van Rees rented a castle in Deurne where he hosted many gatherings for his friends from Paris like sculptors Moissey Kogan and Zadkine. Among the guests was also Hendrik Wiegersma. In 1926 Wiegersma visited Zadkine in his studio in Paris. He bought a work and a lifelong friendship commenced. In 1930 Wiegersma commissioned Double portrait by Hendrik and Nel Wiegersma. A portrait carefully ornamented with vegetative motives. Wiegersma's hand tenderly holds the head of his wife. A very intimate work which clearly shows the close connection between the sitters and the artist.

In 1947, when visiting Nel and Henk Wiegersma for their 30th wedding anniversary, Zadkine saw the ruins of the destroyed city of Rotterdam. His deep emotions inspired him to create his famous 'Ville détruite'. (S. Lecombre, Ossip Zadkine L'Oeuvre Sculpté, Paris 1994, p. 285)

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