The Evolution of a Multi-Disciplinary Artist
Ger Gerrits was a Dutch painter, graphic artist, sculptor, and designer. His artistic journey began with formal training at the School voor Kunst en Kunstnijverheid in Haarlem and the Teekenschool voor Kunstambachten in Amsterdam. As a self-taught painter, he received instruction from Heinrich Martin Krabbé, Georg Rueter, and Jaap Veldheer, as well as from his father. After training as a reproduction lithographer at the age of fifteen, he worked as a commercial designer and lithographer from approximately 1920. His early paintings were characterized by a realistic style, often focusing on street scenes and interiors.
His stylistic trajectory shifted significantly as he engaged with the concepts of De Stijl and the "new imagery." Following a visit to Piet Mondriaan's studio in Paris, his work moved toward abstraction. During the Second World War, he participated in the artistic resistance under the pseudonym Portheine, using it to forge stamps and identity papers. In the post-war era, he embraced "absolute abstract art," exploring color and form as autonomous elements.
Abstract Exploration and Collective Movements
Gerrits's later work transitioned through various stages of abstraction. Influenced by Kandinsky, he created compositions with floating forms to represent cosmic order, later moving toward more geometric shapes. He was a co-founder of the Amsterdam artists' group Creatie in 1950, a society dedicated to the promotion of "absolute art." This group sought to bridge the gap between pre-war and post-war abstraction.
In his final years, his practice evolved further through an interest in Zen Buddhism and the study of concentration techniques. This led to a more spontaneous, lyrical-abstract style characterized by:
Throughout his career, he was an active member of various organizations, including the Liga Nieuw Beelden, and his work was exhibited in numerous international cities, including Paris, New York, and Tel Aviv.
