JAS-krijt

JAS multi-color crayon. 1984 Universal LTD. With a large set promotional photos for the crayon and its inventor, Johannes A. Smit, several Kodak sheets with smaller photos of Smit working and one of Karel Appel.

Smit invented this crayon in 1980. This crayon was allegedly used by both Willem de Kooning and Karel Appel. The latter definitely made use of it: from a press release from 7 October 1999 as a result of the exhibition Jas in (e-)motion in The Gallery in Laren: "In 1984 kwam Karel Appel bij mij langs in België en ging met 20 kilo de deur uit. Razend enthousiast, wat behoorlijk getemperd werd doordat hij aan de Belgisch/Franse grens invoerrechten moest betalen!"