J. Pzn Franken

Joannes Petrus Josephus Franken Pzn.
(1896 the Haque - 1977 the Haque)

Dutch painter, etcher, book-illustrator, woodblockprinter

Man of many talents

 Papersize 55 x 46 cm, printsize 49 x 40 cm. A big print.

Added june 2013: This print is definitely NOT created by J.Pz. Franken !

Any suggestions by readers to the artist (there are some white-line characteristics) are welcomed.

It is probably Dutch, maybe German, in origin. 

I try limitting myself collecting woodblock and linocut flowerpieces but often I stumble upon these unforgettable impressions. I find them irresistable. And when the price is right, the flesh is weak. It's Dutch fishermen-tradition at its best. Almost symbolic, very international and recognizable in every fishing community around the globe.
At first it reminded me of a whiteline print. But Provincetown art in the Lowlands ? Staring at the signature I puzzled: "8 15 J.. Fr....en v ss s". The last word not a signature but the title. Probably "Vissers" (Fishermen). I just love these puzzles. It took me 15 well spend minutes to find a fitting candidate with Google.


J. Pzn. Franken was educated in the Royal (Dutch) Academy of Figurative Art in his native the Haque. He became a well respected artist, his works are in Museums and private collection and there is even a privately limited (200) edition book on his woodblock print art.

A fine sketcher and drawer as you can see in this "view on Veere" (Zeeland) from 1936.

And a fine portrait artist.



A gifted painter.

At Christies these wonderfull soft colored "Pink and purple carnations"and "Hortensias" (oils on paper) were auctioned and changed ownership some years ago.

Likewise did this this very Art Deco "Veiled Nude".

And how contrasting in style with the delicate veiled nude is to find this painting titled: "Lebedame". The German language so very obliging. In French: "la demi-mondaine". Or elegant hooker.

And woodblock-printer.

Examples of J. Pzn. Franken's woodcarving and printing skills. Notice all the action that is going on in this village view. The axman in the tree, the people on the ground and the ships in the canal. The spectacular perspective and Notan forcing and leading the eye to move around the scene in a big swirl.

And book-illustrator.

"Old Harbour" (unsigned but impression JFPz lower left)

and historical portraits

A man of many Talents

(an if it hadn't been for the Fishermen, J. Pzn. Francken probably never to come to my attention )

J. Betz

J.Betz

Dutch printmaker

"Handdruk" around 1920-40 ?

(17 x 21 cm)

A fleemarket find. The new happy mat and the original frame maybe not to everyones taste. But you'll have to admit: it really draws attention. "Handdruk" suggesting a Dutch maker (In German it's spelled "Handdruck").

Not without skill and talent. However, the makers identity other than his or hers signature J.Betz, is enveloped in obscurity.

Ribbed glas vases by Art Deco glass designer A. D. Copier (1901-1991) became very fashionable in the Netherlands. And they stil are. They are of a timeless beauty. However I donot know of a round vase design by his hand. A contribution on his glass vases is in preparation.

In Germany two Art Deco (Bauhaus) glassartists designed these round vases: Richard Lauke and Wilhelm Wagenfeld (1900-1991) around 1939. It's really hard to see great differences. They are considered very collectible and are very much appriciated nowadays. A nice one, at auction, will set you back about $ 100 +. Combing fleemarket and carbootsales you can find one for 50p. Ebay is a good source too. But beware you'll find yourself not alone there.

Laukes design is called "Felicitas" and was manufactured (blown) by Glassfabrik Weisswasser, and Wagenfelds design "Kugelvase" or "Honeyjar vase" by the Vereinigte Lausitzer Glaswerke. Maybe it was a joined venture.

model "Honeyjar"

model "Felicitas"

"Kugelvase" by Wilhelm Wagenfeld

more examples

This one, a Dutch designed ribbed vase, probably made by the Leerdam factories.

Piet Verhaaren

Piet Verhaaren (1906 - 1979)

A framed woodblock print found at an internet market place. A bit damaged, some small tears, but still with strong colors and an intriguing composition. By a maker I had never heard of. I think I just in time saved it from destruction by buying it. Nobody wanted it.

Print numbered 27/30

Initially my researches were a dead end. In 2002 family-members donated (some ?) works to a Museum's graphics-department in Breda (Netherlands).

Piet Verhaaren, the son of a local Dutch blacksmith, had a bad fall on his tailbone in the gym of his Highschool aged 16 (about 1922) leaving him paralysed from the hip downwards. A very sad story.

He trained himself in woodblock/linocutting and it is said he hardly came outdoors and never had an exhibition. To this day nobody ever heard of Piet Verhaaren.

Researching a bit more I discovered this odd composition is build around a so called "most glass", designed in 1928 by the internationally famous Dutch Art Deco (Jugend-stil, Arts and Crafts) glass designer and glassartist A. D. Copier (1901-1991).

The meaning of the word "most" is "new wine" (I had to look it up). The Copier workshop handblew these glasses and many other famous designed glasses and vases in several colors. (A topic about the glass vases of A. D. Copier in preparation and coming soon)

The spined exotic shell is a Lambis Lambis or Spider Conch. A widespread Indo-West Pacific mollusk (seasnail).

I think Piet just grabbed some items at hand composing his woodblock print showing his extraordinairy talent and skills. 70 years later ! What a remarkable man I've discovered.

Two more examples showing he was definitly not just "an other amateur":

(Grote Kerk Breda)
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Additions: April 11th 2012

Chrysanthemums, woodblockprint from an edition of 50.

And in the style of Dirk Nijland