Jo Smit IJsselmonde

 '"Winter op't eiland IJsselmonde"

Johannes (Jo) Smit (Beverwijk 1902 - ?) 

I stumbled over this woodblock print in the archives of an online auction site. It was sold 5 years ago in 2019.  The artist, Jo Smit, today is completely obscured and forgotten. Just one other example could be found. One local newspaper report of an exhibition held in 1977 in his native Beverwijk is all that came to light. All biographical and artist information is welcomed. 

I really hope to find a copy of this winter print one day. Offers are welcomed. 

Jo Smit is not mentioned in any artists lexicons or in any archive. Trying to assemble something of a short biography I found Frisian roots and interestingly enough a link to the history of island Ameland. 

Jo Smit's grandmother IJnske Vellema (Haarlem 1844 - 1886 Amsterdam) was named after her island grandmother IJnske (Inschke) van der Geest (1789 - 1873). Her father David Andries Vellema (1821-1899) was a skipper and left his native island around 1840 to settle in Velsen near Haarlem starting his branch of the Vellema family. 

Both Vellema and van der Geest families had settled on the island in the 18. century originating from nearby Frisian mainland Holwerd and Rinsumageest.  To my knowledge (....)  there are no Vellema's living on the island today but 200 years later many today living native Amelanders have van der Geest genes. 

All pictures borrowed freely from the Internet 

for friendly and academical and non commercial use only.