Early Life, Family and Training The Hague, 26 July 1861. Kees van Waning enters the world in the Netherlands, a setting that would define the boundaries of his creative life. His early years are shaped by the rigorous instruction of several mentors. He studies under Fr. Becker and Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, developing the foundational technical skills required for a professional career in painting. The trajectory of his development shifts as he enters the studio of Johannes Bosboom, a period of intense learning that anchors his technical approach. Instruction does not end with formal scho…