Jan Bontjes van Beek

Body | Scale | Color

Nele van Wieringen (Forum Gestaltung e.V.)

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Paperback

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Arnoldsche
05 January 2026

Ceramic arts, pottery, glass

The moving life of Jan Bontjes van Beek (1899-1969) is closely associated with 20th-century German history. A 'strikingly blonde sailor who could dance and play the violin', he joined the Worpswede artist's colony in 1919 and later found a home with the Breling family in Fischerhude, who introduced him to ceramics.

With the support of his second wife, the architect Rahel Weissbach, he moved to Berlin in 1933, where his studio became a well-known meeting place for artists. Despite having been arrested by the National Socialists and his daughter Cato executed, he could not endure the GDR's Socialist Unity Party regime either and stepped down from a teaching post at the East Berlin Weissensee art school in 1950. He broke into teaching in West Berlin and, finally, in Hamburg continued his ceramic work, which provided the free thinker with a firm footing.

Like no other, he emphasised materiality in form and dynamism in colour. During tumultuous times, he sought out the perfect balance for his vessels, and ultimately for himself.

Text in English and German.

Edited by: Nele van Wieringen (Forum Gestaltung e.V.)
Imprint: Arnoldsche
Country of Publication: Germany
Dimensions: Height: 245mm, Width: 170mm,
ISBN: 9783897907522
ISBN 10: 3897907526
Pages: 80
Publication Date: 05 January 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Dr. Nele van Wieringen is head of the museum: Keramikmuseum Westerwald German Collection of Historical and Contemporary Ceramics near Koblenz.