Jos Postmes, 1896 – 1934
Jos Postmes's 2 Most Famous Paintings
Exhumation (1917) is the painting Jos Postmes is best remembered for; it belongs to the Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht. Our catalogue counts 2 works by Jos Postmes. Here are the 2 most famous, with the year, the museum and the story of each canvas.
Ranked by our popularity score, which combines the searches, visits and orders for each work. Updated November 2026. Each painting on this page can be ordered as an oil reproduction painted by hand on linen canvas, or as a fine art print, made to the size you choose.
- Born · died
- 1896 – 1934, Maastricht
- Works in our catalogue
- 2
- Most famous
- Exhumation (1917)
- Most works at
- Bonnefanten Museum
The ten best-loved paintings by Jos Postmes
Where Jos Postmes's canvases hang
The museum that holds the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Jos Postmes | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bonnefanten Museum |
Maastricht | 2 | Exhumation, Boy's Head |
Jos Postmes's most famous canvases, one year after another
The dated canvases of Jos Postmes on this page all belong to 1917: here they are, in order of fame.
-
1917
1 of 2Exhumation
-
1917
2 of 2
Boy's Head
Jos Postmes's canvases, question by question
Which canvas is Jos Postmes most remembered for?Read the answer
Exhumation (1917).
Exhumation: how old was Jos Postmes when it was painted?Read the answer
Jos Postmes, born in 1896, was 21 years old: Exhumation dates from 1917.
How many paintings did Jos Postmes create?Read the answer
2 works by Jos Postmes are in our catalogue.
Where do Jos Postmes's most famous canvases hang today?Read the answer
Mostly in Bonnefanten Museum (Maastricht); the list above names each museum and its canvases.
When did Jos Postmes paint the most famous canvases?Read the answer
In 1917, which gave 2 of the 2 works on this page, Exhumation among them.
Which paintings by Jos Postmes are held by the Bonnefanten Museum?Read the answer
The Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht holds 2 of the works on this page, among them Exhumation and Boy's Head.
Where can I buy a reproduction of a Jos Postmes painting?Read the answer
Yes. Every painting on this page can be ordered from its own page as an oil reproduction painted by hand, or as a fine art print, in the size you choose.
Meet the painter: Jos Postmes
The Quiet Pulse of Maastricht
Jos Postmes lived a life closely tied to the streets and classrooms of Maastricht. Born in 1896, his hands were rarely still, moving between the precision of a draftsperson and the fluid touch of a painter. He spent his early years learning under Rob Graafland at the Stadsteekeninstituut, a time when the weight of a pencil and the texture of paper were becoming his primary language. His path led him from the local Sunday School for Decorative Arts to the Rijksacademie voor Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam, where he studied alongside Han Jelinger, Henri Jonas, and Jos Narinx. Under the guidance of Antoon Derkinderen, his technical foundations were laid, shaping a way of seeing that would define his later years.
His work was not confined to a single medium. He moved through the world as a painter, textile artist, draftsperson, graphic artist, lithographer, and etcher. This versatility allowed him to touch many different parts of the visual landscape in the Netherlands.
A Life of Instruction and Form
By 1925, Postmes had earned his qualification for industrial education, a step that allowed him to teach drawing to students in both lower and middle-level vocational schools. He was not merely a creator of images but a builder of skills. In 1927, he took on the role of director at the Middelbare Kunstnijverheidsschool in Maastricht. His presence in the city was felt through his commitment to making Maastricht a center for art and science, a goal that drove his professional life until his death in 1934.
His output left behind specific traces in the local landscape and collections:
- The stained glass window of Johannes & Lucas in the Sint-Walburgakerk, Maastricht-Amby.
- The painting Exhumation, held in the Bonnefanten Museum.
- The work Boy's Head, also found in the Bonnefanten Museum.
The Final Years
The years between 1911 and 1934 saw a steady accumulation of technical mastery and institutional influence. He worked in Maastricht and spent time in Amsterdam between 1916 and 1918, always maintaining a connection to the Dutch landscape. His life was cut short in Maastricht, leaving behind a legacy that was documented in later years by researchers looking into his role as a promoter of art education. He remains a figure of the Maastricht art scene, a man who saw the importance of both the finished work and the hands that learn to make it.