An untitled early-1990s acrylic painting by the late Dutch singer and artist Herman Brood has entered the Rijkscollectie, marking the first time an artwork by Brood has been included in the collection, nos.nl reported.
From Tax Office Wall to State Collection
The artwork, which depicts two men with a pistol, hung until recently on a wall at the headquarters of the Belastingdienst in The Hague. Conservators at the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed (RCE) spent months verifying its authenticity before adding it to the national inventory of over 120,000 historical objects and artworks, joining pieces by Rembrandt van Rijn, Piet Mondriaan, and Karel Appel.
RCE conservators stated that Brood deserved greater recognition as a 20th-century icon and artist. The agency collaborated with Stichting Valsbrood—a verification team consisting of three former friends of the artist—to examine the canvas, linen age, and paint composition.
Verifying Herman Brood Paintings
Rob Dupre, a 76-year-old member of Stichting Valsbrood, met Brood in 1990 when the artist walked into Dupre’s Amsterdam discotheque. The pair established an arrangement where Brood performed every Tuesday in exchange for help selling his paintings.
Herman Brood-schilderij opgenomen in kunstcollectie van het Rijk https://t.co/7kt1mVwQEU
Dupre estimated the value of the acquired canvas at 15,000 euros and suggested it may have reached the Belastingdienst through a deal regarding a possible tax debt of Brood. “He didn’t do receipts and those kinds of bourgeois things,” Dupre said. “He painted five paintings and then spent that on drinks, drugs, and women. He wasn’t really business-minded.”
Because numerous forged works and fake certificates circulate, Dupre’s authentication team examined the color combinations, noting that Brood was colorblind. They also checked the paint types and whether the canvas fabric was sufficiently old. “Hermans work is not so detailed as that of Rembrandt,” Dupre said. “We must therefore look at the use of color, because Herman was colorblind.”
Brood used syringes to paint canvases quickly
RCE conservators acknowledged Brood’s distinctive style, noting that his early work displayed creativity and originality through experimental techniques. The agency highlighted his use of primary colors and syringes to apply paint directly to canvases, calling it his own version of action painting or rock-‘n-roll on canvas.
Dupre noted that the artist typically completed a piece in under thirty minutes. “People often said: ‘That can my little daughter too,'” Dupre said. “But what he did was incredibly difficult. If he took longer than 30 minutes on a piece of art, we worried.”
Frequently Asked Questions About the Herman Brood Acquisition
Why did the RCE acquire an artwork by Herman Brood?
RCE conservators decided to add the painting to the 120,000-item state collection because they believe Brood deserves greater recognition as a 20th-century icon and artist.
Who helped authenticate the untitled painting?
Stichting Valsbrood, a team of three former friends of the artist including 76-year-old Rob Dupre, worked with the RCE to verify the work’s authenticity after being approached by auction house Sotheby’s.
Where was the painting located before entering the state collection?
The acrylic work, created in the early 1990s and valued at approximately 15,000 euros, hung on the wall at the headquarters of the Belastingdienst in The Hague.
What techniques did Herman Brood use in his artwork?
Brood experimented with primary colors and frequently applied paint using syringes, creating a rapid style that RCE conservators described as rock-‘n-roll on canvas.