Herman Berserikartist • painter • watercolourist • draughtsmanDen Haag 1921-2002

Herman Berserik is a member of the Hague Realists. He trained at the city’s Academy of Art from 1939-1944, under Rein Drayer, among others. He then travelled to Paris and was particularly struck by the French Cubists and the École de Paris, which afterwards inspired him in the way he combined realism and Cubism in his still lifes. This led to him joining the painters’ groups Vrij Beelden (Free Images) Verve in The Hague (1951-1957), to which Jan van Heel and Theo Bitter also belonged, and De Realisten (1951-1960). In the late fifties the definitive Berserik style emerged – weird and humorous depictions of everyday reality. As well as still lifes, he is known for his landscapes, interiors, figures and city scenes. He also designed costumes and stage sets for the theatre and book covers for Salamander paperbacks.