Joop van Egmond - Kunming, China - Sold

The title Kunming, China places the work geographically, but it is not a topographical representation. Kunming is known for its lakes and striking cloudy skies, and that idea seems translated here into a personal, almost poetic interpretation of place and memory. The whole evokes a sense of openness, contemplation, and movement—a moment of stillness in a vast, colorful landscape.

At the bottom is a broad horizontal zone that suggests water. The reflections in the water echo the colors of the sky, but in softer, more expansive strokes. This creates a sense of calm and balance against the expressive energy of the clouds above. In the center right is a small boat with two figures. Their minimal scale emphasizes the grandeur of the landscape and gives the work a human, narrative anchor without disrupting its abstract power.

Joop van Egmond was a visual artist active in many disciplines, including drawing, etching, sculpture, and watercolor, acrylic, and oil painting. He is also known by the pseudonym "MOND." His versatility resulted in a diverse range of movements and techniques.



In his early years, he worked in a strongly naturalistic style, but in his later work, he continued to search for forms of expression that speak the language of simplicity. The almost "primitive" translation of various subjects, in which humanity, in its purest form of joy and emotions, takes center stage, was a growing source of inspiration for him.

This work is dominated by warm shades of yellow, pink, and orange, contrasting with cool blues and turquoise. This color palette differs from Joop van Egmond's Dutch landscapes. He visited China and the city of Kunming in 2011. The country inspired him immensely and resulted in a series of paintings and drawings focusing on people and street life. This landscape is a rare exception.

For his colorful, abstract landscapes, he found inspiration in the work of the Frisian painter Gerrit Benner. Like Benner, he was obsessed with the Frisian landscape. In Kunming, China, this is evident in the composition dominated by a vast sky, composed of undulating, almost mosaic-like fields of color.

The work of the artist collective De Ploeg (Groningen) also had a significant influence on Van Egmond. Expressionist influences are also visible, such as those of the German artist collective Der Blaue Reiter.

Over the past two decades, he has painted colorful oil paintings of Italian, French, and Dutch landscapes. His paintings exude a powerful brushwork and vibrant richness of color.