The Rotterdam artist Cornelis van Leeuwen started his artistic career as an advertising designer and around 1930 opted for free painting. His preference was for landscapes, in the 1940s he chose figures, and also religious subjects, in a clearly individual, expressionistic style. The artist's work was featured in the exhibition 'Onze kunst van heden' in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (1939-1940). Because of the threat of war, the great works of art such as Rembrandt's 'De Nachtwacht' had been brought to safety. In order to make useful use of the vacant space and to attract visitors, 750 artists showed their work. Queen Juliana was the patroness of this exhibition.