Herman Dijkjans Exhibition

The Walburgiskerk in Zutphen is hosting a special exhibition featuring works by the Zutphen/Warnsveld-based artist Herman Dijkjans (1889–1966). With this exhibition, the museum is shining a spotlight on an artist who was unjustly overlooked for many years but has, in recent decades, gained increasing recognition for his impressive body of work.

A unique perspective on the Achterhoek landscape
Herman Dijkjans captured the landscape of Zutphen and the wider surrounding area in a way that few others did. His paintings and watercolours depict farmhouses, floodplains, tree-lined avenues and panoramic views in a style ranging from Impressionist to Expressionist. The River IJssel was an inexhaustible source of inspiration for him.

Dijkjans preferred to work outdoors, in the heart of the landscape. This enabled him to capture the light, the colours and the atmosphere of the moment in a striking manner. His watercolours in particular, with their loose brushwork and subtle use of colour, demonstrate the extent of his craftsmanship.

An eventful life as an artist
Herman Dijkjans was born in 1889 in the Polsbroek district of Zutphen, the son of a baker. Although he was initially expected to take over the family business, it became clear early on that his future lay in art. His mother discovered his talent for drawing and realised that drawing brought him peace.
After a difficult childhood, during which he even ran away from home for a short time and worked for a travelling circus, he was given the opportunity to develop his skills further. He trained as a house painter and specialised in decorative painting on carriages. He also studied at the Kunstoefening art academy in Arnhem, where he received excellent marks. However, his perfectionism and fear of failure stood in the way of him obtaining an official qualification.

Despite lacking the necessary qualifications, he was appointed art teacher at the Zutphen School of Crafts. He taught there for many years, whilst in his spare time and after his retirement he built up an extensive and distinctive body of work. After his marriage to Catho Lintveld, he lived in Warnsveld, where much of his work was created. He died in Zutphen in 1966.

A re-evaluation of a regional artist
The exhibition demonstrates why Herman Dijkjans is now regarded as one of the most important regional landscape painters of the last century. His work exudes a love for the Achterhoek landscape and, at the same time, provides a valuable snapshot of the area around Zutphen.

The exhibition runs from 11 September to 29 October 2026 in the Credokapel of the Walburgiskerk in Zutphen and is accessible during regular opening hours with an admission ticket for the Walburgiskerk.