Anton Karssen - Winter landscape with a woman on a path by a mill

Anton Nicolaas Marie Karssen, usually known as Ton Karssen, was a Dutch painter who made a name for himself primarily with romantic winter landscapes, old cityscapes, and beach scenes. He was born in 1945 in The Hague and later worked mainly in Rotterdam. Karssen came from an artistic family and was a descendant of the 19th-century painter Kasparus Karsen. He developed a talent for painting at an early age. His first works had a religious slant, but around the age of twenty, he became strongly inspired by the Dutch Romantic School. At that time, he painted ice scenes, winter landscapes, and cityscapes in the style of artists such as Charles Leickert, Cornelis Springer, and Andreas Schelfhout. His paintings stand out for their fine detailing and nostalgic atmosphere. His Old Dutch winter scenes featuring skaters were particularly popular among collectors at home and abroad. In addition, he also created impressionistic beach scenes of Scheveningen, influenced by the Hague School. Karssen often signed his work with “A. Karssen” or “A.N.M. Karssen”. His work was exhibited in America, Australia, Germany, and Belgium, among other places. According to several sources, he won a public prize in Perth, Australia. In addition to his work as a painter, Ton Karssen also taught painting to other artists. He remained active as an artist from approximately 1960 until his death in 2019. Today, his work is held in many private collections.