Willem Dooijewaard (1892-1980)

A Maroccan harem dancer

signed 'W. Dooyewaard' (lower right)

oil on canvas, 61x92 cm

Provenance:
-Auction, Christie's, Amsterdam, 24 October 2000, lot 69.

Please compare the present lot with the illustration: 'Harem dancers-Morocco' in the book of Jan P. Koenraads, ill. on p. 127.

Willem Dooijewaard travelled far and wide. Before the war, he had mainly visited countries in the Far East including the Dutch East Indies, Japan, and China. At the end of WWII, he went on one more lengthy trip to satisfy his thirst for exotic impressions, this time to Morocco. Over a period of a year and a half between 1948 and 1949, he painted the proud people in their wide flapping and colourful clothes and the narrow streets teeming with people. Dooijewaard experienced the predominantly nomadic population as friendly and hospitable, but unapproachable in their sense of freedom that tolerated no interference in their actions, morals, or customs. The men and children gladly posed for him, but the women remained invisible, and he could only get to see them heavily veiled. However, he wanted to paint them naturally, without the protective clothing. Through the mediation of a Moorish woman and under elaborate precautions, he managed to paint a number of models naked or semi-nude. This was absolutely forbidden because if it became known that a Moroccan had posed nude in front of him, she would no longer be sure of her life amongst her people! William painted his oriental women and harem girls in this way and perhaps due to and because of the impending tension of the forbidden, they became paintings, which by their charged and sensitive expressiveness may be counted among his finest works. However, they were 'forbidden paintings', and only under the promise never to exhibit them in Morocco was he allowed to export them out of the country on his departure. He worked in Morocco for over a year, from 1948 to 1949 after which he settled in Blaricum. His thirst for space and adventure was now quenched.

Reference: Jan P. Koenraads, 'The Jacob and Willem Dooijewaard Brothers', 1966

For this artist resale right is applicable from € 2400 hammer price onwards