Richard Roland Holst

Richard Roland Holst (1868-1938) was a versatile Dutch artist. He was active in many fields , including as a writer, sculptor, etcher, glass painter, professor, illustrator , lithographer , furniture designer, painter, draftsman and muralist . Although born into a wealthy family, he showed an understanding of working-class life and was deeply involved in the socialist movement. His works deal with social themes, but also have a decorative beauty influenced by Symbolism and Art Nouveau.

Richard Roland Holst Biography

• Born December 4, 1868 in Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Studied at the Rijksakademie Amsterdam
• In the 1890s, he participated in the socialist movement and produced illustrations for socialist magazines.
• In the 1900s, he produced works influenced by Symbolism and Art Nouveau.
• Since the 1910s, he has also worked on decorative arts such as murals and stained glass.
• Died in Amsterdam on December 31, 1938 (aged 70)

Representative works

• Painting:

  • The Procession of the Workers (1903)
  • The Triumph of Death (1901)
  • The Four Horsemen (1907)

• Illustrations:

  • Illustration for Hermann Hesse's novel "Demian"

• Decorative arts:

  • Stained glass at the Amsterdam Stock Exchange
  • Mural in the Peace Palace in the Hague

Holst's style and achievements

Holst's work is characterised by its fusion of decorative beauty influenced by Symbolism and Art Nouveau with social themes: he portrayed the realities of working-class life and social inequality through strong lines and vivid colours .

Holst was deeply involved in the Dutch socialist movement, and his ideas are reflected in his work. He was a passionate artist who sought to promote social change through art .

Holst was an accomplished artist who worked in many artistic fields, and his talent and social consciousness left a significant mark on the history of Dutch art. His works still convey important messages to us today, making us think about social justice and human dignity .