Carel Willink (1900-1983)

In the early 1930's, Willink started to paint in a realistic Neo-Classical style. In his evolution towards his typical Magic Realism he was influenced by fellow realistic painters such as Giorgio De Chirico, Christian Schad and Georg Grosz. As Kramer points out, Willink introduced narrative elements in his work. It seems that, together with Willink, the spectator has to observe another reality in which tiny elements have an enormous impact on the atmosphere in the picture. As in other canvases of the 1930's, Willink achieved an atmosphere of loneliness and abandonment. Jaffé points out that these elements were supported by the then international economic and political situation: 'Landscape, religious theme or anecdote - like in 'Landscape with fighters'- the essence remains: Willink feels the sign of the times and gives shape to it in his own harsh and realistic style. (..). There is no longer a faint threat in his work, the threat is perpetuated in a situation.' (op.cit. Jaffé, p. 88)