Jacobus van Looy - Travellers in Morocco

Jacobus van Looy (1855–1930)

Travellers in Morocco

circa 1886

Signed lower left

Pencil on paper

10.5 x 10.5 cm

Provenance:

Private collection, Bergen; private collection, Aerdenhout.

Condition:

In good condition.

Additional information:

During his Prix de Rome journey, Jacobus van Looy made numerous sketches of the people he encountered along the way. This loose pencil drawing shows a small group of North African figures on a hill. With a few powerful lines, Van Looy convincingly captures their poses, clothing and interaction. The spontaneous sketch demonstrates his sharp powers of observation and forms a direct record of his journey through North Africa.

Jacobus van Looy (1855–1930) was a Haarlem painter, draughtsman and writer and an important representative of the Tachtigers, the generation of artists and writers that placed beauty and personal experience at the centre of their work. He grew up in the Haarlem orphanage, where his talent for drawing was recognised at an early age. This talent enabled him to study at the art academy and develop into an artist of dual gifts.

After winning the Prix de Rome, Van Looy undertook a multi-year study journey through Southern Europe and North Africa. Morocco, and Tangier in particular, made a deep impression on him. The lively markets, colourful figures and distinctive atmosphere inspired paintings, drawings and pastels, as well as literary works, including the novel Gekken. His travels remained a lasting source of inspiration and gave his oeuvre a distinctly Orientalist character.

His versatile oeuvre continues to be appreciated and is represented in the collections of, among others, the Rijksmuseum, Teylers Museum and Frans Hals Museum.