Jopie Huisman - The First and the Last Shoes

Jotje (Jopie) Huisman (Workum, October 18, 1922 – Groningen, September 29, 2000) was a self-taught Dutch painter and draftsman. His real name is Jotje, but his nickname is Jopie. That is also the name that everyone in the Netherlands – and far beyond – knows. Jopie was a special and authentic resident of Workum. He himself considered Workum paradise on earth. Jopie said: “To me, heaven can never be more beautiful than this.” Jopie obtained his house painter's diploma at the age of 14.

He eventually started working as a painter at a pottery factory in Workum. He taught himself the trade of painting. In 1963, he had his first exhibition in Harlingen. In the seventies, his painting took on a different character. He painted more poignant subjects, and his technique became increasingly realistic. It is primarily these works that brought him fame. A woman from Workum offered me an old cupboard for sale. When she opened the cupboard door, she said: 'Damn, there are Mother's first and her last shoes.' I thought: 'I always buy those for a few cents.' But when I told her that I wanted to buy the cupboard, but with the shoes included, she didn't agree.

They were not for sale. I said: 'Wife, we will do it differently. You keep the shoes, but I will make a beautiful drawing of them. To me, they prove that your mother was there; her whole life is between them.' 'What an odd man you are,' she said, 'then take them with you after all, and I won't want them back.' Later, at home, I found a quote from Ecclesiastes on a crumpled piece of paper from one of the toes: 'For that which is not, cannot be counted.'

The work is mounted between acid-free cardboard/passepartout. Behind glass, in a beautiful Barth frame.


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