Any contemporary Dutch painter would be forgiven for feeling the weight of 500 years of painting tradition. You’d think he or she might avoid the still lives, seascapes and fleshy nudes that define Flemish mastery. Well, not Kees Alderliesten. Instead, he takes his knife and brush and paints his way directly towards it.
Kees Alderliesten is proud to represent a contemporary echo of Northern renaissance giants such as Rembrandt and Jan van Goyen. To do their example justice, he obsesses over technique and composition. Kees paints for between 10 and 15 hours a day, and when he’s not painting he’s generally thinking about his work. He’s immensely serious about it all. He says: “As an artist I paint for eternity, using the most durable materials and techniques. I’m seeking to continue the Dutch painting tradition.”
This diligence has made him one of his country’s most celebrated artists. And in this new show for the Catto Gallery, his fifth, Kees displays the full repertoire. The majority of the work comprises supremely delicate still lives, exemplified by the achingly lovely Pink Orchid and Venice Glass with Silk. Each of these reflects the taste and judgement of someone who knows exactly where he’s come from, and exactly what he’s doing.
And there’s the same sureness of touch in Seascape, Light and Clouds. Again, Alderliesten reveals he’s happy to accept the legacy of history here. In the 16th century, Dutch artists were among the first to depart from classical and religious themes in order to paint the sea. It wasn’t exactly accident. This period marked the birth of sea-faring and the rise of The Netherlands as a maritime nation. Painters like Hendrick Vroom set the template for this kind of work; Alderliesten continues it.
And in this new show, he even takes on another Dutch tradition: the nude. This is something we haven’t seen from Alderliesten in a long time and it’s remarkable. Reclining Nude, for example, is such a vivid piece. Visceral as a Rubens, it reflects in its subject matter and execution just how confident Kees is right now. But don’t think this confidence came easily. Kees confesses he finds life painting difficult and has worked for three years to reach this standard again. Fans of Alderliestens’ work will be captivated by the collection, though the artist will have mixed feelings should they wish to buy one. For Kees, each work is like a child and he hates to see them go. He says: “I’m just not too comfortable about selling my work. In fact, it breaks my heart.”
Kees' words reflect the immense care he takes over each of his works. Interestingly, though, the new works also showcase a looser approach in the form of ‘alla prima’ - painting with a single layer of paint. It’s understandable that an artist so immersed in technique might wish to return to the ‘single take’. Perhaps it’s like the musician rejecting the overdubs and orchestras, and returning to the liberating simplicity of a song and a guitar.
Here’s how Kees explains it: “The beauty of a rough sketch is what captivates me. Rough paintings can be a motivation for a more elaborate work, or they can be left as is. There’s something special about the the directness of it.”
Kees Alderliesten may be one of the senior figure in contemporary Dutch painting, but he’s still experimenting still striving for new forms of expression. And it’s what makes him an artist who is not just inspired by 500 years of tradition, but genuinely part of it.
If you would like to enquire about this artist or about buying their work you can call us: +44 (0) 20 7435 6660
use the form or email us at: art@cattogallery.co.uk
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