Henri Bol

• Birth Name — Henri Cornelis Bol • Born — 10 January 1945 • Birthplace — Eindhoven, Netherlands • Died — 10 July 2000 • Place of death — 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands • Known for — Painting • Illustration — Works by Henri Bol

Bol was born and raised in Eindhoven as the eldest son of painter Kees Bol. As a young adult he studied at the Design Academy Eindhoven (1960-1964), where his father was a teacher, and for several years, he also attended the Graphic School in Eindhoven. He also trained at the Technical College in Roermond where he was taught printing. In September 1966, he met Gerrie Klinkenberg, eldest daughter of a police inspector. They were married in April 1968. In the autumn of 1967 he applied successfully for a job as a creative therapist at the hospital for mental health Huize Padua in Boekel. The family lived in Handel. In 1972, the "Blaauw Laaken", a Grade I listed house build in 1604, was acquired in the old fortified town of Heusden. In the late sixties Bol visited the Museum Arnhem, and became fascinated by Dutch painters Raoul Hynckes, Dick Ket, Pyke Koch and Carel Willink. The paintings made by these artists inspired him to focus seriously on painting. Soon Bol was given the opportunity to exhibit his work. With fellow artists, he showed his paintings at Gemert Castle and at the Old Mill in Thorn. In 1973, Bol exhibited his work at the Town Hall of Hilvarenbeek. An avid collector, he acquired antiques like furniture, pewter, enamel, (pocket)watches, musical instruments, glassware, china and books. Historical objects which served only one purpose, namely to act as subjects in his still lifes. Bol was fascinated by their history and beauty. In the late 1970s, Bol exhibited in the Old Town Hall of Beek en Donk and at the Philips Leisure Centre in Eindhoven. Subsequently, he showed his work at Smelik & Stokking Galleries in The Hague, Gallery Mokum in Amsterdam and Gallery Gogol in Düsseldorf, Germany. In 1988, his wife Gerrie Bol-Klinkenberg launched her own Art Gallery "Blaauw Laaken" where Bol exhibited his paintings with great success until he died in 2000. In the mid-1990s, RTL Nederland aired ‘Toppers’, a series of documentaries featuring Dutch celebrities, presented by Willibrord Frequin. Central in one episode was Frits Philips, of the Philips Electronics company. Bol featured in this program because he was working on a still life, commissioned in honour of the 90th birthday of the industrialist. In 2002, on the occasion of the publication of a monograph on his work, an exhibition was organized at the Museum Kempenland in Eindhoven, titled "Sophisticated and timeless, still lifes by Henri Bol (1945-2000)". In 2022, Henri Bol will be the subject of 2 exhibitions in Heusden. Museum Het Gouverneurshuis will focus on Bol's artistic upbringing in Eindhoven, how the town Heusden inspired his work, and it will celebrate his success as an artist. In Het Blaauw Laaken Kunstkabinet a selection of still life paintings by Henri Bol will be on display. It will give a good overview of the development Bol made as an artist. His paintings will also be placed in the context of the artists who inspired him and with whom he felt connected. A new book on the artist, Henri Bol. De leefwereld van een Brabantse fijnschilder, is also published. The exhibition was officially opened on 22 April 2022 by the King's Commissioner of North Brabant Mrs Ina Adema. In 2025, Henri Bol would have turned eighty. It also marks 25 years since his passing—a fitting moment to commemorate the life and work of this fine artist through an exhibition and publication. This tribute takes shape through the work of his father, the painter Kees Bol. Central to the exhibition are the portraits Kees Bol painted of his eldest son Henri. On Friday, September 19, Mr. Jeroen van den Bosch, Alderman for Culture and Art of the municipality of Heusden, officially opened the exhibition 'Kees Bol Portretten van Henri' at art gallery Het Blaauw Laaken Kunstkabinet in Heusden. Following the opening, author Willemijn Bol presented him with the first copy of the book 'Kees Bol – Portretten van Henri'. • Illustration — Frits Philips with artist Henri Bol • Illustration — Henri Bol, Stilllife with grapes, 1995 • Illustration — Opening exhibition 'Henri Bol', in art gallery Het Blaauw Laaken Kunstkabinet Heusden 2022. From left to right, the King's Commissioner of North Brabant Ina Adema, Charlotte Bol en Willemijn Bol • Illustration — Portrait of Henri Bol, painted by his father Kees Bol