Ode to Frieda HunzikerFrieda Hunziken, once so well known and appreciated, has fallen into oblivion
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This morning (20 June 2024) I read in the NRC: Rediscovery of rebellious painter Frieda Hunziken, she could have been at least as famous as Karel Appel. Such a headline arouses my curiosity. Then I want to know more. Who was this Frieda Hunziken?
So I read the article and start ‘googling’. And what I come across surprises me. Why has there not yet been a retrospective exhibition of this artist in Amsterdam, at the Stedelijk or H'Art museum? And why it did last year at the Stedelijk Museum in Schiedam!
I see that her works are on display in Ede at art dealer Simonis-Buunk, seventy paintings and work on paper. On sale!!! I am completely bewildered. Frieda Hunziken, once so well known and appreciated, has fallen into oblivion.
Frieda Hunziken was born in Amsterdam on 17 October 1908, the daughter of Friedrik Hendrik Hunziken and Alijda de Vries. She is an only child.
Frieda trained as a drawing teacher and also started working as such, but after her marriage to Willem Swart, she lost her job. In the Tuyl van Serooskerkenweg where they live, Frieda sets up the attic as a workspace and starts painting in oils. She visits museums at home and abroad. In 1937, her son is born. In 1940, her marriage to Willem foundered.
“It is difficult for her to make money from her paintings because women were still considered incapacitated until 1957.”
During the war years, she took in people in hiding in her studio space and brought Jewish children to safety. She refuses to join the Dutch Culture Chamber.
After the war in 1945, she is the only woman to participate in the ‘Art in Freedom’ exhibition at the Rijksmuseum. She finds it difficult to earn money with her paintings because women were still considered incapacitated until 1957. Fortunately, she has a permanent job as a teacher at the Nieuwe Huishoudschool in Amsterdam. Frieda joins the group ‘Vrij Beelden’ and this group exhibits regularly at the Stedelijk Museum. Frieda is the only woman in these groups and most active. Frieda gets into a relationship with Piet Bosman and goes to live with him at 34 Van Breestraat. She often participates in exhibitions, Stedelijk-Fodor-van Abbe Museums, and exhibits in England, Paris, Antwerp Germany and South America (Sao Paolo Biennale).
Frieda is among the top post-war artists. Her work was exhibited somewhere in the Netherlands every year between 1940 until her death in 1966. Even after being diagnosed with breast cancer, she continued working unabated.
Frieda died on 9 September 1966 in Amsterdam. She was 58 years
Period
1908– 1966
About
Ode by Maria Dubbeldam on behalf of de zaak muurbloem to Frieda Hunziker.
Never heard of this artist before. Via an article in the newspaper and google, I found out more about her. An Amsterdam artist who in her time regularly participated in exhibitions, also internationally. A forgotten woman!
Frieda Hunziker
Frieda Hunziker (Amsterdam, 17 October 1908 - there, 9 September 1966) was a Dutch painter and draughtswoman who also worked as a drawing teacher at several schools in the Netherlands. She was part of the expressionist movement within the Netherlands in the 20th century.