Hendrik Smit

The artist Hendrik Smit is one of a long line of artists who, in addition to working with a rich palette, also accentuate the typical Dutch light. After a long period of experimentation in various directions, he eventually found his own style. His work is rooted in a Dutch tradition of intuitive and expressive painting—particularly abstract. He says, “I paint mainly abstract works and do not want any figurative elements in my work.” He paints close to the canvas with his fingers, creating a powerful expression that makes the colors seem to burst onto the canvas—or whatever surface he is working on. Despite the abstraction, there is much to see, and more importantly, it never gets boring.

Smit’s work has now grown into a well-established body of work that enjoys international recognition from, among others, American galleries. Partly due to the professionalism that has always characterized Smit’s approach, he has been able to attract a growing number of collectors who acquire his work, and he is currently experiencing a surprising international breakthrough.

This comes at a time when Smit has managed to develop a maturity in his style, in part by tackling his often large canvases with ever-greater uncompromising intensity. He does this, incidentally, in combination with oil paint. He no longer uses traditional brushes, though he does finish the work locally with a palette knife—a process that can sometimes take a few days. But above all, through direct physical contact with the canvas using his hands wrapped in plastic. In this way, he literally holds in his hands what he wants to apply to the canvas, free from the frustration of any medium. Add to that the power of both his imposing stature and his compelling artistic spirit, and the result is a concentrated energy with a reassuring smile on the canvas—a portrait of the artist, as befits a true artist.