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H.N. Werkman (1882-1945)
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Donation by A.J. Eschauzier
Acquisition 2002
Date 1943-1944
Size 51 x 35 cm.
Signature SMC 2
In 1995 the Koninklijke Bibliotheek organised The hidden word, an exhibition of clandestine printed matter from World War II. This was a selection from the collection of Hans Eschauzier, honorary president of the Vereniging Vrienden van de Koninklijke Bibliotheek [Association of Friends of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek], who discreetly presented himself as 'the collector ***'. Among the highlights of the exhibition was an impressive collection of publications from De Blauwe Schuit, printed by the Groningen artist and printer Hendrik Nicolaas Werkman. Unfortunately, the most important publication - Chassidische legenden [Hassidic Legends] - was missing.
This series of two suites, each comprising ten prints, marks the apogee of Werkman's oeuvre and is regarded as one of the finest graphic products of the twentieth century. In December 1943, Werkman completed the second suite under extremely difficult circumstances, using a range of printing techniques, in particular the stencil technique, which he raised to technical perfection. Although each print was produced in a run of twenty copies, the handcrafted nature of the printing process meant that each print was different.
Together, they make up the illustrations accompanying folktales collected by Martin Buber about rabbi Ba'al Shem Tov [Master of the Good Name], which offered consolation and religious inspiration to the Jews of Eastern Europe in their wretched circumstances.
For a true Werkman collector, Chassidische Legenden is the pinnacle of the collection, not only because of its rarity, but above all because of the evocative force of the prints and the story behind its creation during the dramatic period of World War II. Werkman was arrested by the Germans on suspicion of clandestine activities and was executed without trial in April 1945.
It was a special moment for Eschauzier when he was able to buy the copy of Ate Zuithoff, the last surviving founder of De Blauwe Schuit. He then did something that a collector rarely does. Convinced that the art work was too beautiful and too important to spend the rest of its days in a secluded private collection, he donated it to the KB, making this library the only one in the Netherlands to have a complete copy.
(KT)
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