Anton Pieck (1895-1987)

Anton Pieck

Anton Pieck was born in Den Helder and was one of the most outstanding and versatile Dutch artist. His oeuvre consists of oil paintings, watercolours, etchings, woodcarvings, lithographs and book illustrations. He also was the designer of the amusement park de Efteling and an exhibition space for cars (the Autotron).

Pieck's work can be recognised by its enormous fantasy and the remarkable precision with which he worked. He began drawing and painting at a young age. When Pieck was 11 years old he won a prize for a watercolour still-life and when he was 17 years old he received a certificate for his drawing at secondary education level.  During his long life, Pieck would receive many more awards and his work was seen in many exhibitions.

Fairy tales were always a great source of inspiration for Pieck. Mysterious scenes on paper or on canvas depict fantastic worlds full of and dreamlike imagery. In this tradition, he has produced a series of watercolours for the special publication of the story of One Thousand and One Nights, also commonly known in English as The Arabian Nights.