de Bruin Cornelis

Cornelis de Bruin was a Dutch artist, born in Utrecht in 1870 and died in Amsterdam in 1940. He received his training at the Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten in Amsterdam under the guidance of August Allebé, known for their beautifully painted skies.  De Bruin lived and worked in Amsterdam and Baarn. He painted mostly landscapes in an impressionistic style, which he almost always signed on the back with "Corns. de Bruin" along with an annotation. His work is characterized by pastel-colored skies, which often developed craquelure over time.  De Bruin also worked as a plate painter and designer at ‘De Distel’ in Amsterdam (circa 1900-1903) and at the ‘Dordtsche Kunstpotterij’ in Dordrecht (1903-1906). Later, he had his own company in Maarssen and simultaneously worked as a designer and painter at the Plateelbakkerij Delft N.V. In 1918, he moved to Baarn, and in 1923 he returned to Amsterdam. During his career, he spent considerable time in Germany as a designer at ceramic factories, including Villeroy & Boch, where he created beautiful tableware.  De Bruin painted many landscapes in the Veluwe and the Gooi, as well as seascapes, shellfishers, gypsies, vagabonds, harbor scenes, and cityscapes, particularly in Amsterdam.  Many of his works were exported to America; emigrating Dutch took his paintings with them as a memory of their old homeland. Additionally, he designed much for Tuschinsky, the Synagogue in the Linnaeusstraat, and the Masonic lodge in Amsterdam.  His oeuvre shows a very recognizable style, and he lived precisely in the period of the Hague School (1870-1940). He is considered one of the 'little masters' with his powerful and recognizable style.(BT)