Familie Klomp

Painting portraits and figures always appealed to Charley Toorop, even though it sometimes took her years to create just one painting. The family portrayed in this work is that of building contractor Arie Klomp, who was commissioned by Charley Toorop to build De Vlerken, the studio and home in Bergen designed for her by Piet Kramer. The sombre facial expressions and dark clothing of the family are characteristic of Charley Toorop’s work. Although the family fills the entire space, this picture does not convey any real sense of warmth and unity; each member of the family is effectively isolated. A critic once wrote of Toorop’s method of working: ‘When creating a portrait, she sets herself the task of presenting the individual as he is and not merely as he looks right now.’