Dutch artist Christian Johannes van der Hoef is a representative of the Nieuwe Kunst (“New Art”) movement, known worldwide as Art Nouveau. Van der Hoef was involved in painting and graphics, sculpture, ceramics, and posters. He began his creative career at a pottery factory in Amstelhoek, where he got a job in 1898, and soon became a designer of tableware and decorative items. In 1910, van der Hoef gave up ceramics and switched to sculpture.
The artist was also involved in creating medals. Most of the design projects were brought to life by the Dutch factory Koninklijke Begeer, which produced cutlery and medals. At first, van der Hoef worked on sports awards, but over time, orders began to come from various organizations. Based on the artist's sketches, medals were issued to commemorate such events as the Annual Trade Fair in Utrecht, the International Aeronautical Congress in The Hague, the founding of the Dutch Society of Industrialists and Merchants, etc.
Van der Hoef worked in two styles typical of Art Nouveau: curvilinear (ornamental) and geometric. The first style is characterized by smooth curves, plant and animal motifs, while the second is characterized by straight lines and abstraction. The cost of medals ranges from several hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the edition and material (mostly bronze, less often silver). The medals by van der Hoef presented here are in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
Source:
mbam.qc.ca
