Art in the Ambassade Hotel

Other modernists

As we have already said, in addition to works of art produced by members of the Cobra movement, the Ambassade Hotels' collection also includes numerous other works by modern artists. Two are discussed below.

Bram van Velde and Willem Hussem belong to the art movement 'Vrij Beelden' [Free Imaging]; a movement that originated more or less at the same time as Cobra in 1947. These artists advocated an abstract and experimental art form, but in a less progressive fashion than the artists of the Cobra movement.

After a spending his young years in hardship and poverty, Dutch-French painter Bram van Velde (1895 tot 1981) left for Paris in 1925 together with his brother Geer van Velde, also an artist. It was there that he became one of the leading figures of the École de Paris after World War II. His friendship with Samuel Beckett had a profound influence on his work. Both felt that it was impossible for an artist to express his inner self in a work of art, but could only aim towards perfection.

Willem Hussem (1900-1974) was originally a figurative painter. Prior to World War II he was influenced in France by the paintings of Vincent van Gogh. Around 1940 he became inspired by the work of Picasso and non-western art. He later became interested in eastern philosophies and Zen Buddhism.