Arent Ronda
 
           
[ see arent ronda ancestry for details about Arent Ronda's ancestry ]
    Zijn werk vertoonde meteen al een duidelijke hang naar vrijheid, wat zich vooral in een Fauvistische kleur openbaarde. De vormgeving was naturalistisch, met een sterk expressiviteit en een lichte neiging tot impressie, wat zich vooral uitte in zijn Drentse landschappen, portretten en stadsgezichten en in de schilderijen, die hij in Frankrijk maakte, waar hij ook enige tijd verbleef in het gebied van de Yonne.
    In het begin van de vijftiger jaren verhuisde hij van Zuidlaren naar de stad Groningen. Daar onderging zijn werk een groei naar abstractie, die vooral gestimuleerd werd in die richting, doordat hij als adviseur optrad bij een verffabriek in Groningen. Zijn proefnemingen met verfstoffen en samenstellingen voor die firma leidden hem mede in zijn eigen werk tenslotte tot pure experimentele abstractie.

       Evert Musch (a fellow member of the Drents Schildersgenootschap) in his obituary
[ view complete obituray ]


[ His work quickly demonstrated a clear taste for freedom, which revealed itself above all in a Fauvist approach to colour. The early compositions were naturalistic, with a pronounced expressivity and a nod to impressionism. This made itself felt in his Drentse landscapes, portraits and cityscapes, and in the paintings he made in France, where he spent some time in the area of Yonne. • In the early nineteen-fifties he moved from Zuidlaren (Drenthe, the Netherlands) to Groningen. There his work underwent an evolution toward abstraction, stimulated by the fact that he worked as an advisor to a paint factory. His tests for this firm, of mixtures and materials for making paints, were a contributing factor to his eventual move to a purely abstract experimental expression. ]

       Free translation by Peter Enneson



see the entry for Arent Ronda in: Scheen, Pieter A.  
Lexicon Nederlandse beeldende kunstenaars 1750 – 1950.      
’S-Gravenhage Kunsthandel Pieter A. Scheen, 1969 – 70

see the page for Arent Ronda in:
Documentatie Groninger kunstenaars: deel 1
Groninger Museum, 1972
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      Paintings


           
                Stadsgezicht ( private collection )
                    Zuidhavenpoort, Zierikzee, Zeeland with draw-bridge
                   
                    actual size: 35" x 18.5" [ 89 cm x 47 cm ]
                   
[ view larger image ]    [view a postcard of the same location ]

           
                Boerenerf private collection )
                    actual size ; 39.5" x 28" [ 100 cm x 71 cm]
                    date: 1947
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Woonwagen Kamp [ Zuidlaren ]
                    ( scanned from an exhibition notice )


           
                Landscape with Cowsprivate collection )
                    Magnuskerk in Anloo in the background
                    actual size: 25" x 18.5" [ 63.5 cm x 47 cm ]
               [ view larger image ]

           
                Landscape with Cowsprivate collection )
                    actual size: 13" x 11" [ 33 cm x 28 cm ]
                    1947
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Korenveld bij Noordlarenprivate collection )
                    actual size: 23.5" x 15.5" [ 60 cm x 40 cm ]
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Dunes Around Zuidlarenprivate collection )
                    actual size: 12" x 10.5" [ 30.5 cm x 26.5 cm ]
                    1939 ( at 17 years of age )


           
                the Drentsche AA near Schipborgprivate collection )
                    the Drentsche AA is a small river running from Drenthe to Groningen between Zuidlaren and Haren
                    actual size: 19.75" x 17.75" [ 50 cm x 45 cm ]
                    1945, oil on board
                    [ view larger image ]     [ view a postcard of the Drentsche AA near Schipborg ]

           
                Still Lifeprivate collection )
                    1943, oil on canvas
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Still Lifeprivate collection )
                    actual size: 26.5" x 23.5" [ 67 cm x 60 cm ]
                    1947, oil on canvas
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Jantina Catharina Maria Ronda ( b. 1933 )private collection )
                    1947, oil on canvas
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Rennie Noteboom ( b. 1934 )private collection )
                    1953, oil on canvas
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Portrait — subject unknownprivate collection )
                    oil on canvas
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Portrait — subject unknownprivate collection )
                    oil on canvas
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Stadsgezicht, de Brink, Assenprivate collection )
                    actual size: 23.25" x 18.5" [ 59 cm x 47 cm ]
                    1947, oil on canvas
                    [ view larger image ]

            
                Rural Scene 1private collection )
                    1943, oil on canvas
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Rural Scene 2private collection )
                    actual size: 34" by 22" [ 86 cm x 56 cm ]
                    1952, oil on canvas
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Dordogne, Franceprivate collection )
                    actual size: 35.5" x 33.5" [ 90 cm x 85 cm ]
                    1954, oil on canvas
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Franceprivate collection )
                    1950s, oil on canvas
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Portrait, Princess Irene of the Netherlands ( located on the internet )
                    actual size: 25.5" x 35.5" [ 65 cm x 90 cm ]
                    oil on canvas
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Rennie Noteboom ( located on the internet )
                    Arent Ronda’s wife; Rennie Noteboom was an artist in her own right
                    about 1975, oil on canvas
                    [ view larger image ]

            
                Theo Noteboom ( located on the internet )
                    Arent Ronda’s father-in-law
                    oil on canvas
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Composition ( private collection )
                    actual size: 16" x 23" [ 40.5 cm x 58.5 cm ]
                    oil on canvas
                    [ view larger image ]

            
                Composition private collection )
                    actual size: 39" x 27.5" [ 100 cm x 70 cm ]
                    [ view larger image ]

            
                Composition (private collection )
                    actual size: 30" x 24" [ 76 cm x 62 cm ]
                    [ view larger image ]

            
                Compositioncollection: Kornelis and Francine Kolstein )
                    [ view larger image ]

            
                Composition ( Private collection )
                    actual size: 39" x 27.5" [ 100 cm x 70 cm ]
                    [ view larger image ]

            
                Composition ( Private collection )
                    actual size: 22" x 23.5" [ 56 cm x 60 cm ]
                    [ view larger image ]

            
                Composition ( Private collection )
                    actual size: 20" x 20" [ 50 cm x 50 cm ]
                    [ view larger image ]

            
                Composition ( private collection )
                    actual size: 23.5" x 15.75" [ 60 cm x 40 cm ]
                    1970
                    [ view larger image ]

      _______________________________________

      Mural


           
                Composition ( location : Christian School, Zuidlaren )
                    [ view larger image ]

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      Watercolours


           
                Drents impression collection: Kornelis and Francine Kolstein )
                    1938 ( at 16 years of age )
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Plowing ( private collection )
                    actual size : 21" x 14" [ 53 cm x 35.5 cm ]
                    1945 ; watercolour on paper

                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Man fishing ( private collection )
                    actual size : 18" x 12" [ 45 cm x 30.5 cm ]
                    1940 ; watercolour on paper

                    [ view larger image ]

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      Drawings and sketches


           
                Noordlaren, Drenthe private collection )
                    Arent was an ‘onderduiker’ ( person in hiding ) during WWII

                    1941
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Drentse AA private collection )
                    actual size : 11" x 18" [ 28 cm x 45 cm ]
                    1942 ; Pencil on paper
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Skull private collection )
                    Pen and ink
                    1942

                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Field wth labourers private collection )
                    1945 ; Pencil on paper
                    actual size: 17.5" x 6.75" [ 44.5 cm x 17 cm ]
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Pieter Ronda private collection )
                    Pieter Ronda, an elementary school teacher in Zuidlaren was the artist's father
                    actual size: 8.5" x 12"
[ 21.5 cm x 30.5 cm ]
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Mello Nieuwenhuis private collection )
                    Mello Nieuwenhuis is the brother of Annie Nieuwenhuis. Annie Nieuwenhuis became the wife of Arent’s brother Jaap.

                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Playing Checkersprivate collection )
                    foreground, left to right: Enno Ennema, Trijntje Westera / Ronda
                    background, left to right: Trijntje Ronda / Ennema, Pieter Ronda
                    actual size:
8.5" x 12" [ 21.5 cm x 30.5 cm ]
                    1947
                    [ view larger image ]

           
                Untitledprivate collection )
                    medium: wax crayons
                    actual size:
16" x 12" [ 40.5 cm x 30.5 cm ]
                  
 [ view larger image ]

           
                Enno Ennemaprivate collection )
                    medium: charcoal on paper
                    actual size: 19.5" x 25" [ 49.5 cm x 63.5 cm ]
                    [ view larger image ]
                    
      _______________________________________

      From the sketchbooks of Arent Ronda
A selection of figure studies, landscape studies, sketches and preliminary sketches.
1943
1945
1960
1986
                    
      _______________________________________

      Woodcuts


           
                Gevangenenprivate collection )
                    1943

            
                At the station ( Vries / Zuidlaren; private collection )
                    actual size : 8.5" x 6" [ 21.5 cm x 15.25 cm ]
                    1942
                    [ view larger image ]
      _______________________________________

      Shows
one-man shows

1942            Berenhuis, Groningen [ view a review by C. Redam ]
1947            kunstzaal de Gier, Amsterdam
1950            galerie de Mangelgang, Groningen
1969            galerie O, Onderdendam
1970            Helderse Kunstiga, Den Helder
                    Hoorn

group shows

from 1945   Drents Schildersgenootschap exhibitions
      _______________________________________

      Student Work

           
                Still Life with Ginger Potprivate collection )
                    medium: oil on canvas

                    [ view larger image ]

     _______________________________________

      Experimentele Expressie

           

           

‘Experimentele Expressie’ veronderstelt het experimenteren met wezenlijke, artistieke kenmerken in de eigen beeldtaal van een leeftijdsgroep op basis van een zuiver gebruik van het uitdrukkingsmiddel. [ Experimental Expression has as it's basis the experimentation, through a pure use of the medium, with distinctive artistic features in the figurative language unique to a specific age-group. ]
       Arent Ronda — From the introduction to Experimentele Expressie: Een Methode voor artistieke vorming

      _______________________________________

      Ronda family photographs

           
                Alle, Trijntje, Arent and Jaap Ronda
                    Arent, the youngest of four children, is in the foreground on the left;
                    beside Arent in the foreground is his brother Jaap (Jacob Wibbes);
                    behind them are their step-brother Alle and their step-sister Trijntje

                    ( all three of Arent's siblings emigrated to Canada in the early 1950s )
                    1920s

           
                In front of the original family home on ( Verlengde ) Stationsweg, Zuidlaren
                    Jaap Ronda and Arent Ronda;

                    behind them Trijntje Westera, mother of Jaap and Arent

           
                On the pastures around Zuidlaren
                    Trijntje Ronda, Jaap Ronda and Arent Ronda


           
                Arent at nine years old and Jaap  at eleven
                    1931
( foto Steenmeijer, Heerestraat 421, Groningen )

           
                Arent Ronda and Tante Tiet
                    Tante Tiet[sia] ( Trijntje Susanna Westera ) was a stepsister
                    of Arent's mother Trijntje Westera

                    1930s

           
                Arent Ronda at 15 years of age
                    1937 ( foto Steenmeijer, Heerestraat 421, Groningen )

           
                Arent with a friend or fellow art student
                    late 1930s

           
                Arent as an art-school student
                    1940s; Arent is on the left

           
                Arent among his classmates in art-school
                    1940s; Arent is seated third from left in the front row

           
                Arent, possibly in Zuidlaren or Groningen

           
                Arent, time and place unknown

           
                Arent playing the lute
                    at right, his step-sister Trijntje Ronda / Ennema, 1956 or 1958
                    at the time Arent was living in Groningen


           
                Arent at his easel ca. 1965 / 1966 in ‘Rust een weinig’                    

      _______________________________________

            contact: Peter Enneson
            e-mail: penneson@sympatico.ca
            last updated: December 25, 2006

            thanks to Francine Kolstein for help with titles
            and the spelling of Dutch language text;
            to Ankie de Vries / Boonstra for contacts, scans,
            and digital images of many of the works from Dutch sources;
            and to all others who supplied information and images.