Jacoba van Heemskerck Quotes

(original version, written by Jacoba in German:)Es ist eine schreckliche, doch auch eine gewaltige Zeit, ich persönlich empfinde es auch für meine Kunst so wichtig, jetzt zu leben.. .In dieser Zeit muss man viel denken und viel arbeiten, in der Natur ist jetzt eine so grosse Schaffenskraft.

For you it must be a great satisfaction that you have done so much for modern art. If Der Sturm had not worked like this for ten years then Germany would not have been at the forefront of the movement. (translation from Dutch, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)

I work a lot and I think a lot. I really want to try to paint on glass. .Please will you ask him [mr. architect Taut ] if there are any transparent colors, which one can use to paint on the glass directly.. .I want to dispose of a new technique in which the artist can paint on the glass directly instead of canvas. When one wants to reach colors spiritually-bright, then a time will come that oil-paint and canvas are no longer suitable.. .So, if you have time, please ask Mr. Taut if he understands my view and maybe he knows the ways how I can follow my direction. (translation from German, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)

Every day I am thinking about the Art school [which Walden wants to start in Germany, since 1915-16].. .If our pursuit is really to make great progress in future, the Art school must produce individualities who can with our assist really continue from their inside and start creating on their own, without always studying the pictures of other artists. (translation from German, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)

I was in Rotterdam, but the exhibition there was horrible. Le Fauconnier has nothing to tell anymore. He has a dirty color now and has become a real academic. Mondrian is completely frozen, no poetry at all anymore. It's terrible that these people can not reach further with great ideals. To my taste paints far too much naturalistic. A big difference, these three, compared to [Franz] Marc, Kandinsky, Filla etc.. (translation from German, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)

On the whole [the alignment of a series of stained glass windows with the interior of a villa in The Hague] I have thought about all the time.. .I want to focus more on the architecture of the interior in general and that should we do together [with architect Buys].. .Now I was already thinking, the enormous color effect that the window will generate - and that will certainly become powerful - must be accompanied with strong colors - the hall -, otherwise the window itself will be too much isolated. For instance the staircase, could it be painted in strong colors and not [in] oak.. ..deep ultramarine blue or green, with a beautiful colorful carpet.. ..I feel I must make designs for carpets, to create in that way a beautiful unity with the stained glass as a whole. (translation from Dutch, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)

(original version, written by Jacoba in German:) Ich habe wieder nur Nummern gegeben. Ich bleibe bei meiner Idee, keine Titel zu geben. .. ..Titel sinds o widerlich romantisch, und jetz wird man in einiger Zeit hunderte Frühlings, Sommer, Bäume, an Liebknechts, Eberts und so weiter haben. Farbe und Linien haben für alle eine verschiedene eigene Sprache, die nicht im Titel festgelegt werden woll.

As an artist you can not stand for long in The Netherlands. You must see a lot and talk a lot about everything.. (translation from German, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)

Again I only gave numbers [of her art-works, she sent for the next Sturm-exhibition]. I stick to my idea of not giving titles. ..Titles are really disgusting romantic, and now in a while people will have hundreds of Spring's, Summers, Trees [paintings], to Liebknecht, Eberts, etc.. Above everything color and line have their own specific language, which doesn't want to be captured in a title. (translation from German, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)

(original version, written by Jacoba in German:) So geht es, wissen Sie, ich bin immer unzufrieden und will immer weiter gehen.

(original version, written by Jacoba in German:) Das land [Bretagne]] is sehr schön und farbig gibt es reizige Töne; je mehr abstract man aber arbeitet, je mehr man die Skizze zu Combinationen umarbeitet.

version in original Dutch / citaat van Jacoba van Heemskerck, in het Nederlands: Over het geheel [de afstemming van een serie aan Jacoba opgedragen glasramen met het interieur van een villa in Den Haag] heb ik steeds loopen denken.. ..ik wil mij veel meer op de architectuur van het binnenhuis in het algemeen toeleggen en dat moeten wij samen doen [met architect Buys].. .Nu heb ik al gedacht het enorme kleur-effekt dat het raam zal maken en dat zal zeker machtig werken, moet gedragen worden door sterke kleuren - de hal - anders staat het teveel alleen; zou de trap b.v. in de verf een sterke kleur kunnen krijgen en niet [in] eikenhout.. ..diep ultramarijn blauw of groen en dan een prachtige kleurige loper.. ..ik voel dat ik ontwerpen voor tapijten moet maken om zoo met het glas in lood een mooi geheel te hebben.

(original version, written by Jacoba in German:)Ich arbeite sehr viel und denke sehr viel. Ich möchte so gern versuchen, auf Glas zu mahlen. .. ..bitte fragen sie ihn dann [Herr Taut] ob es transparante Farbe gibt, womit man gleich auf Glas malen kann. .. ..ich möchte eine neue Technik haben, dass der Künstler so direkt das Glas verwenden kann statt Leinwand. Wenn man die Farben leuchtend geistlich haben will, dann wird es eine Zeit kommen, dass Oelfarben und Leinwand sich dafür nicht mehr eignen.. ..So wenn Sie Zeit haben, fragen Sie dann Herrn Taut ob er meine Idee versteht und vielieich den Weg kennt, den ik gehen müsse.

version in original Dutch / citaat van Jacoba van Heemskerck, in het Nederlands: Hier valt in de schilderswereld weinig bizonders voor; alles blijft soliede bij het oude.

..I am so often showing my work in Germany that I belong to the German moderns.. .I openly want to confess you that I don't value the new painting in my home country very much. That is why I don't have a lot of acquaintances among the painters. Everything here is so little progressive. People's life is to easy here. It is very difficult to keep wide-awake since all are sleeping here. I feel much more at home in Germany. (translation from Dutch, Fons Heijnsbroek, 2018)