Oil on canvas 90 × 70.5 cm, signed upper right and dated ’38

Jan Gerrit Jordens

The career of Jan Gerrit Jordens, who was born in 1883 in Wageningen as the son of a grocer, began in education. He enrolled at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague and at the State Training School for Drawing Teachers in Amsterdam. After completing these studies, he obtained a job in 1907 as a drawing teacher at a secondary school (HBS) in Warffum, in the province of Groningen.

Painter of De Ploeg

Alongside his busy job as a drawing teacher, Jan Jordens always tried to devote as much of his free time as possible to his work as an artist. Shortly after the founding of the artists’ collective De Ploeg in 1918, Jordens joined the group. Three years later, he resigned his membership due to a disagreement over the judging of an exhibition. Nevertheless, he later rejoined and remained involved with De Ploeg until 1951, despite his reservations, serving for many years as its chairman.

Jordens also looked beyond the boundaries of Groningen. He was a member of the Amsterdam artists’ society St. Lucas and also of De Onafhankelijken, an Amsterdam-based artists’ association that aimed for greater freedom in the arts. Jordens was not only a painter; he also made etchings and woodcuts.

From Cubism to Abstraction

In Jordens’ early paintings, the influence of Henri Le Fauconnier and Dutch expressionists such as Piet van Wijngaerdt is visible. In the 1930s, Jan Jordens became fascinated by French Cubism, and his work grew increasingly abstract. His preference for Cubism paved the way for paintings dominated by bright, radiant colors and lacking clearly recognizable forms. The works from these later years align with those of the 'École de Paris'.

His Own Path

In 1948, Jordens closed the door of the HBS behind him for the last time; he retired. After his retirement, he finally had the time to devote himself entirely to his art, which he pursued with great energy. This became a fruitful and highly creative period in his life. He had a strong drive for innovation and experimented extensively. At one point, he mixed sand into his paint to add texture. He also incorporated rope and textiles into his paintings.

Dissatisfied with the conservative direction of De Ploeg, Jordens founded the artists’ collective Het Narrenschip in 1950 together with six other artists. They exhibited primarily, though not exclusively, in Groningen. After seven years, the collective came to an end.

Jordens passed away in 1962 at the age of 79 in Groningen.