Herman Meesartist • painterVeendam 1880-1964 Zuidlaren

Herman Mees was a talented portraitist, from professors, relatives, neighbours to Queen Wilhelmina, he captured everyone with his brush. Mees studied at the academies of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague and completed his education at the London School of Art. He was taught by August Allebé, Willem van Konijnenburg and Nicolaas van der Waay, among others. From 1923, Mees himself was appointed head teacher of the drawing and painting department at the academy in Rotterdam. Here he taught many aspiring artists, including Jan van Heel and Karel van Veen. In addition, he founded the artists' association The Independents in Amsterdam and was a member of Pulchri Studio and the Rotterdamsche Artists' Society. Mees' extensive oeuvre consists of landscapes, cityscapes, flowers and still lifes. His portraits, mainly in oil and pastel, in which he captures the characteristics of the portrayed persons, make up the largest part of his oeuvre.