H.G. (Herman) Wolbers

Dutch artist Herman Wolbers was born in the village Heemstede on 27 May 1856. Herman died in The Hague on 29 December 1926. His full name was Hermanus Gerhardus Wolbers. Herman Wolbers was a watercolorist, painter, draftsman and etcher.

Background of Herman Wolbers

Herman Wolbers comes from a line of visual artists and architects and sculptors and is named after his grandfather. He is also a family member of Julien Wolbers (1819-1889). Julien was the founder of the Christian Workers Association “Patrimony” and fought slavery in Suriname.

In the tradition of his grandfather and great-grandfather, Herman would become a home and decorative painter. Yet he devoted himself entirely to painting. Herman was taught by Dutch artists Willem Vester (1824-1895) and Anthonie Jacobus van Wijngaerdt (1808-1887). In addition, Herman may have also received advice from the Hague painter Salomon Leonardus Verveer (1813-1876) at a young age.

Herman Wolbers worked in Heemstede, Haarlem until 1888 and then in The Hague. He mainly painted meadow landscapes, dune landscapes between the town Heemstede and the city Haarlem. He also painted farm still lifes and animal scenes. His work is painted in an impressionistic style. In particular, cows in a variety of bright colors and spotted patterns are desired. Herman is currently considered to be one of the great Dutch cattle painters of The Hague School. He signed his paintings with H.G. Wolbers.

In the years 1878 to 1880 Herman Wolbers received a royal subsidy for free painting. It is an incentive prize that was established by the Dutch King William III in 1871. This prize is still awarded today.

Herman Wolbers was a member of Arti et Amicitiae (Arti, Amsterdam) and Pulchri Studio (The Hague). During his lifetime, exhibitions of his work took place in Rotterdam (from 1878 to 1905), Amsterdam, Arnhem and The Hague. His work is in various museums, including the National Museum in Amsterdam and the Boymans-van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam. In addition, the Heemstede Bennebroek Historical Association owns work by Herman.