From 27 June to 30 November 2008 the Jewish Historical
Museum presents the exhibition Hendrik Werkman: The Blue
Barge. The exhibition contains Werkman's preparatory studies
for the suites of prints he made for The Blue Barge during the
Second World War as an act of resistance against the Nazi
occupation. The most famous of these is Chassidische Legenden
(Hasidic Legends). Many of the handcrafted prints bear annotations
by Werkman.
Hendrik Nicolaas Werkman (1882-1945), best known as a member of
Groningen's artists' association De Ploeg (The Plough), was one of
the Netherlands' most important graphic artists. His unique visual
language was expressed in countless experiments with printing
techniques. During the war he established The Blue Barge together
with three friends. One of these was the clergyman August Henkels,
who gave Werkman a copy of Martin Buber's Legend of Baal-Shem
(1932) in 1941. Werkman made a series of twenty beautiful
illustrations for these Hasidic stories. The texts and images were
an act of resistance against the Nazi occupation and were intended
to give courage to the Dutch people during the war years. As a
result of his resistance work Werkman was executed by firing squad
by the Sicherheitsdienst (Security Service) on 10 April 1945.
In 1976 August Henkels' widow presented the JHM with Werkman's
letters to Henkels and his wife plus the complete series of proof
sheets for The Blue Barge (including the Hasidic Legends). The JHM
is exhibiting the prints (more than 60 pieces) and the
correspondence between Werkman and Henkels for the first time since
1977.
The exhibition is complemented by the concurrent exhibition
Welcoming the Stedelijk Museum: 'Druksel prints' by
Werkman organised by the Stedelijk Museum at the Van Gogh
Museum in Amsterdam (11 July - 12 October 2008). In May 2008 a
complete catalogue of Werkman's work will also appear (H.N.
Werkman, The Complete Works, NAi Publishers, €65.00)
followed in June 2008 by a new edition of the letters of Werkman
and the members of The Blue Barge (H.N. Werkman. Brieven rond
De Blauwe Schuit (1940-1945), Uitgeverij SUN, Amsterdam,
€95.00).
For more information and/or images please contact the
Communications Department:
T: +31 (0)20 531 0370 F: +31 (0)20 531 0311 E: Communications
Department
The JHM is open daily from 11.00 to 17.00