Willem Vaarzon Morelartist • painter • watercolourist • draughtsmanZutphen 1868-1955 Koudekerke

Willem F.A.I. Vaarzon Morel is the progenitor of the three-generation Vaarzon Morel family of artists, many of whose members lived in Zeeland for varying lengths of time. His son and grandson, both named Willem, also established their names as painters, and his grandson Eric is the well-known flamenco guitarist. Vaarzon Morel admired George Hendrik Breitner, whom he knew from the Rijksacademie. However, he did not develop as a typical Amsterdam School painter, but as an Impressionist with his own distinctive use of colour and brushwork. In this respect, like Isaac Israels, he comes close to Post-Impressionism. His colour palette, consisting mostly of pastel tones, appears French rather than Dutch. Using light, sometimes almost pointillist brushstrokes and cheerful colours, he painted landscapes, beach scenes, horses, and flowers. In addition, he created illustrations and posters. Like Israëls, Vaarzon Morel was also internationally oriented and traveled extensively, including to France, Italy, and England. During his travels, he was clearly influenced by foreign painters in terms of theme, style, and use of colour. Fairgrounds, fashion house interiors, and strolling ladies increasingly become his favorite subjects, giving his oeuvre a light, sophisticated, and narrative character.