A Life in Oude Pekela
Tjakko Borgesius lived his entire life within the boundaries of Oude Pekela. Born on 1 June 1816 to Goedhart Borgesius, an engineer-landmeter, and Wendeltje Aapkens, his path was shaped by the land and its management. He worked as a surveyor and held interests in both land and peat. His days were occupied by the practicalities of local governance and agriculture. From 1850 until his death in 1888, he served as the mayor of Oude Pekela. He also held a seat in the Provincial States of Groningen for many years, from 1859 to 1886.
His involvement in the community extended to the founding of the Groninger Maatschappij van Landbouw, where he served as the first chairman. This was a period of significant local development. He lived alongside his wife, Gesina Johanna Zuiderveen, and remained rooted in the same soil where he was born and eventually passed away on 13 April 1888.
The Hand of an Amateur
While his official duties involved maps, administration, and the oversight of peatlands, Borgesius also practiced as an amateur painter and draughtsman. His artistic output was small, consisting of known works that captured specific corners of the Westerwolde landscape. He worked primarily with oil on panel. One can see his focus in his depictions of Klooster Ter Apel, where he recorded the scenery of the region.
His approach to painting was not that of a professional seeking fame, but rather that of an observer recording what he saw. His known works include:
- Painted scenes of the Westerwolde landscape.
- Depictions featuring Klooster Ter Apel.
These pieces, such as his cityscape of Klooster Ter Apel, are held within the collection of the Groninger Museum. They remain as quiet records of the landscape he managed and governed throughout his life.
