Jan Portenaar (Netherlands 1886 - 1958)

Portenaar was an important Dutch printmaker and graphic artist.  He is largely unknown outside of Holland,  but more's the pity.  He worked extensively in graphic arts, and was famous in Holland for his etchings and lithographs but he also worked as a woodcut artist and worked extensively as a book illustrator. 

It is suggested that Portenaar was largely self educated and, this is another reason why his works are outstanding.  He did study however under Piet van Wijngaerdt and Willem Witsen.  Portenaar was the consumate traveller and lived in London, where he created a piece largely considered one of his masterpieces, "Waterloo Bridge".  In 1915 he won the silver medal at the San Francisco International Exhibition that created many stars of the print.  He also visited India and lived in the 20's for a time in the Dutch East Indies.

There is a diversity of style to be studied in the works of Portenaar, who often suggestively indicated water in its various aspects by a few judiciously chosen lines.  Portenaar cannot be mentioned without any comparison to his mentor, Willem Witsen.  Witsen's technical ingenuity produced odd and telling effects by the use of an aquatint. sulphurtint and other processes or manipulations, and the results of his works are outstanding.  The works of Portenaar seemed to strive in the Orient.  There are distinct notes in his works, and his love of water is clear.  His works, although not always stunning, are noteworthy and the artistic merit of his works go without staying.