Huib Lunsartist • painterParijs 1881-1942 Amsterdam

Huib Luns was a versatile person and artist. Besides being a painter, he was a sculptor, draftsman, lithographer, book cover designer, author of books on Dutch painting, and designed medals. After lessons at Theo Molkenboer's Teekenschool Hendrick de Keijser, he studied at the Rijksnormaalschool for drawing teachers in Amsterdam and at the evening school of the Rijksacademie, where he befriended Jan Sluijters. In 1904 Luns and Sluijters participated together in the Prix de Rome, with Sluijters winning the prize. From 1908 to 1917, he taught at the Rotterdam Academy, then served as director of the Academy of 's-Hertogenbosch until 1923, and from that year onwards became director of the Rijksinstituut voor Opleiding van Tekenteacheraren (National Institute for the Training of Drawing Teachers) in Amsterdam. From 1931 to 1942, he held the position of professor of Hand Drawing and Art History at the Delft University of Technology. Luns was an efficient organizer and a popular administrator and teacher; his lectures drew full houses. The oeuvre he built as an artist was as varied as that of his busy other activities. His paintings and drawings consisted of numerous portraits of prominent Dutch figures, nudes, elegant women in sun-drenched landscapes, still lifes, and colorful landscapes, often created during his travels to southern regions, including beach and cityscapes. His style ranged from realistic—akin to that of Molkenboer—and symbolist to a loose, impressionistic palette. Besides painting and drawing, he also created lithographs and murals. He also became known for his art publications, the most important of which was 'Holland Schildert', a survey of contemporary painting from 1940. Luns traveled extensively and wrote a series of travel guides, 'Ten walks in...' , about several important art cities he visited. He was an active and respected figure within the art world—he was a member of Arti et Amicitiae, Sint Lucas, and Pulchri Studio, among others, held various board positions, and received numerous awards at home and abroad. Luns was the father of a family of six children, of whom the later Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Luns, was the best known.