The Life and Artistic Evolution of Erika Visser
Born in Bochum to a German mother and a Dutch father, Erika Visser spent much of her childhood in Germany. Following her father's arrival in a concentration camp in 1936, she moved to the Netherlands to live with her aunt and uncle. Her formal artistic training began under Louis Hermanus Hendrikus Schutte in Haarlem, followed by studies at the Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten in Amsterdam starting in 1940, where she was taught by Gerard Victor Alphons Röling. During this period, she met and married the artist Johannes Jacob Boonkennen in 1941. After becoming a mother, she moved to Utrecht in 1945. Her artistic style underwent a significant transformation through her involvement with the Genootschap Kunstliefde, evolving from a naturalistic approach toward more abstract and cubist forms.
In 1951, she married the surrealist painter Johannes “Joop” Hendrikus Moesman. Later in life, she married Pieter Reinkingh and resided in Harmelen. Following a car accident in 1969, her ability to work and teach was significantly impacted. In her final years, she lived in the Rosa Spier Huis in Laren, where she was close friends with the writer Marten Toonder.
A Portraitist of the Soul
Erika Visser established herself as one of the most prominent Dutch portrait painters of the post-war era. Her work was characterized by an attempt to capture the inner essence of her subjects, often depicting a dark side through a thoughtful gaze. Her subjects included a diverse array of individuals, such as:
Visser was a member of several prestigious organizations, including Pulchri Studio in Den Haag, the Amersfoorts Kunstenaarsgilde, the Haagse Kunstkring, and Genootschap Kunstliefde. Her work has been showcased in various exhibitions, including a solo exhibition at the Centraal Museum Utrecht titled Erika Visser. Schilders van zielen.
