Charles van Wijkartist • sculptorDen Haag 1875-1917

The sculptor Charles van Wijk was familiar with the 'metier' of bronze foundry from an early age. He also completed the Hague Academy, a course that he completed with an apprenticeship in Paris and Brussels. After his return to the Netherlands (1897) he breaks with the traditions within his profession and opts for impressionism. He finds subjects in the Veluwe, where he models rural people and farmers from life. After that he focuses on fishermen's life in Katwijk. From 1903 he regularly stays there, as the only sculptor among the painters. It results in well-known images such as 'Old fisherman', 'The caller' and 'Krijntje'. In addition to small sculptures, Van Wijk also produced commissioned portraits and monumental sculptures.