Ian Friend / Anton
The Dutch Wives
2024 marks the centenary of the birth of Anton Heyboer and four works in this exhibition specifically reference the Dutch artist (1924-2005). I first encountered Heyboer’s work in the early 1980’s working as a Curator in the Tate Gallery Print Department, when the gallery acquired three of his works. One of Heyboer’s works, from my collection, is also included in this exhibition.
After three fairly conventional marriages, including converting to Catholicism, Heyboer established a commune at Den Ilp, north of Amsterdam, initially with Maria (from 1960), subsequently joined by Lotti (from 1965), Marike (from 1974) and Joke (from 1975).
Dogs, cats, goats and chickens also inhabited the ad hoc compound which gradually expanded. He had previously been confined on occasions to a psychiatric institution and was diagnosed as schizophrenic demonstrating a Messiah complex. His work became part of a “System” which also included notebooks and diagrams designed to maintain innocence in life. As the four wives stated they were certainly instrumental in preventing Heyboer from being confined to a psychiatric institution in his later years.
Heyboer was born in the Dutch colony of Sumatra and the Dutch Wife was also the name given to a human sized bolster or pillow, sometimes made of bamboo, that a person slept with in the Dutch East Indies. From a certain perspective over time it also took on sometimes scatological intimations of a sexual nature.
Heyboer achieved international recognition, his work being exhibited in Kassel at Documenta in 1959, 64 and 69. His work was also acquired by institutions including the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, MOMA, New York, Tate Modern and The British Museum. He retreated from exhibiting to some degree in his later years citing an aversion to the overly commercial aspect of the art world, and a desire to maintain the availability of his work to a broader public.
Ian Friend May 2024
Etching, drypoint and ink on Hahnemühle paper 120 x 92 cm (framed)
Anton Heyboer Untitled 1984 Collection: Ian Friend120 x 92 cm (framed)
Den Ilp 2023
Ink, gouache, crayon, graphite on Hahnemühle paper
$6,600
2023-24
The Dutch Wives #1 Ink, gouache, crayon, graphite on Hahnemühle paper 120 x 92 cm (framed) $6,600The Dutch Wives #2 2023-24
Ink, gouache, crayon, graphite on Hahnemühle paper
92 x 120 cm (framed)
$6,600
2023-24
92 x 120 cm (framed)
The Dutch Wives #3 Ink, gouache, crayon, graphite on Hahnemühle paper $6,600
Musica Callada I (After Federico Mompou)
2022
Watercolour, gouache, ink, crayon, graphie on Hahnemühle paper
92 x 120 cm (framed)
$6,600
120 x 92 cm
Musica Callada III (After Federico Mompou) 2022 Watercolour, gouache, ink, crayon, graphie on Hahnemühle paper (framed) $6,600Spirit of the Beehive III (After Victor Erice)
2022-23
Monotype, watercolour, gouache, crayon, graphite on Hahnemühle paper
120 x 92 cm (framed)
$6,600
Shore I (After Samuel Beckett) 2020
Indian ink, Zecchi ink and graphite on Khadi paper
44 x 48 cm (framed)
$2,500
Shore II (After Samuel Beckett) 2020
Indian ink, Zecchi ink and graphite on Khadi paper
44 x 48 cm (framed)
$2,500
Shore III (After Samuel Beckett) 2020
Indian ink, Zecchi ink and graphite on Khadi paper
44 x 48 cm (framed)
$2,500
Shore IV (After Samuel Beckett) 2020
Indian ink, Zecchi ink and graphite on Khadi paper
44 x 48 cm (framed)
$2,500
Gallery Director
Jan Manton
Gallery Manager