Rijksmuseum exhibition celebrates illustrator Fiep Westendorp

Illustrator

From a young age, Fiep Westendorp (1916–2004) knew she wanted to be an illustrator. She studied at the Royal School for Art and Technology in Den Bosch, where she was the only female student, and later at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rotterdam. Her early sketchbooks in the exhibition show how she developed her distinctively quick and humorous style, with a keen eye for human nature.

The power of constraints

After the war, Fiep Westendorp moved to Amsterdam and was a frequent contributor to Het Parool, particularly its women’s page. At a time when few women were active in this profession, she was a notable exception as a financially independent illustrator. The exhibition shows how the limitations of printing techniques and narrow newspaper columns compelled her to adopt a simple, pared-down style, shaping a clear graphic visual language with strong lines and minimal detail.

Famous Characters

The iconic Dutch children’s book characters ‘Jip en Jan-ne-ke' first appeared on the children’s page of Het Parool in 1952, initially with hyphens in longer words to help beginning readers. The earliest drawings of the two children, shown with realistic proportions, differ markedly from their later, more familiar depictions. Over time, the next-door neighbours became increasingly stylized, with smaller bodies, short legs, large heads, and their characteristic pointed noses. These characters from beloved children’s author Annie M.G. Schmidt’s stories grew into icons of Dutch visual culture.
At the end of the 1950s, two new main characters named Pim and Pom appeared on the scene. Original annotated sketches of these two cats from the stories of author Mies Bouhuys are also included in the exhibition. Fiep Westendorp illustrated the stories and gave the duo their independent and spirited characters.

Annie M.G. Schmidt 

From the 1960s onward, new printing techniques offered Fiep Westendorp greater artistic possibilities. She experimented with a variety of materials, complementing her Indian ink and collage techniques with poster paint and watercolour. This enabled her to work more precisely and bring greater depth of colour and detail to her illustrations. Working together with Annie M.G. Schmidt, she brought beloved characters to life in books such as Otje, Pluk van de Petteflet and Floddertje. One of the most iconic Dutch illustrators of the 20th century, Fiep Westendorp used her distinctive visual style to create characters that have captured the imagination of generations.

Design

The exhibition at the Rijksmuseum is designed by Irma Boom Office.

This exhibition is made possible in part by the Fiep Westendorp Foundation and the Brook Foundation through the Rijksmuseum Fonds.