Jan Hoowij

1907-1987

Jan Hoowij was born in Hengelo, Holland, and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in the Hague with Henk Meyer, and at the Academy Grande Chaumière, Paris.

He emigrated to the USA during or after the 2nd World War. After leaving occupied Holland in 1939, he lived in London where he illustrated books of several well known Dutch authors, including books by J.H. Huizinga and different children's books. The "Tom, Dick en Harry" book dealing with the occupation and how to deal with the liberation forces... became famous not in the least because of its illustrations. In his Dutch period Hoowij has been mentor to many a young painter that attended the Royal Academy of Fine and Applied Arts in the Hague. After Hoowij emigrated to the USA, at first he must have worked on the East Coast before settling in California..

Originally a portrait painter, he received the Therese van Duyl Schwarze Portrait Prize in Amsterdam and has done portraits of New York Mayor Robert F. Wagner, actor Van Heflin, and folk-singer/actor Burl Ives.

After relocating to Los Angeles (settling in Encino) Hoowij focused his work on modernism and surrealism.

He exhibited in over 65 museums, including Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam; Brooklyn Museum; Palais Chaillot, Paris; Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh; and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

In 1961 he was asked to portrait the then mayor of Los Angeles Norris Poulson. The composition of this painting much resembles the earlier portrait of Dr. H. B. Holsboer in 1939. After this episode, Hoowij seems to have developed his style more towards explicit modern art painting (orator, driftwood...). His works of art are displayed in the large museums around the world. Hoowij became was a.l.s. patient who lived a record 12 years after being diagnosed. He died in 1987.