Jan Schoonhoven. Early drawings and sketches, ca. 1950s

Sent to G. Schippers (Gerard Stigter/K. Schippers) in 1969, in PTT packing paper. Contains a handwritten note, a gouache on paper, an ink drawing, and five small doodle-type sketches. In the note Schoonhoven mentions that he is sending 'the promised drawing and an extra sketch. The one a bit German Expressionist and the other Degas-like.' Jan J. Schoonhoven (1914 - 1994) was a Dutch artist, best known for his Zero works from the 1960s onwards. In the 1940s and 1950s he experimented with drawings and gouaches which reveal an orientation towards Surrealism, German expressionism, and the analytical-cubist work of Pablo Picasso. (ref. Jan Schoonhoven, Melissen/Nai 2015, p. 17)

Containing: (1) Sheet of PTT packing paper, 52 x 70 cm. Folded into an envelope measuring 22.5 x 32 cm, with handwritten address and shipment information, poststamped. (2) Handwritten note to Gerard, 7 x 10.5 cm, signed 'Jan Schoonhoven 7/VIII '69'. (3) Gouache (German expressionist piece), 29.5 x 21.3 cm, on repurposed architect's draft paper. (4) Black felt tip drawing (Degas), 29.5 x 20.5 cm, on repurposed architect's blueprint paper. Though not mentioned in the letter, there are three additional small blue ballpoint sketches, some double-sided, probably late 1950s. (5) Drawings, double-sided in blue pen, on Heineken beer paper. 11.2 x 7 cm. (6) Drawings, double-sided in blue pen. 12.2 x 6.2 cm. (7) Drawing on thick PTT paper, measuring 10.4 x 7.5 cm. Amazing unique documents from the collection of K. Schippers. (total 7)