Jan van Rijsewijk - Etching, Prison Gate The Hague

Carel Jan van Rijsewijk, born on 10 September 1954 in Dieren, is mainly active as a graphic artist. Over the years he has made the aquatint etching technique his specialty. Unlike line etching, the aquatint process produces uniform tones that can vary in intensity. This makes it possible to work with nuances. For a long time Jan devoted himself to immortalizing historical cityscapes in the tradition of the old masters, with the 17th century aquatint expert Herkules Seghers serving as an example.
Besides being a gifted colleague, Jan van Rijsewijk also recognizes the love of his life in Anna Doedijns. And vice versa. When you say Jan, you say Anna. They know themselves to be colleagues, soulmates.
Jan: "From the start we have been each other's support and critics. It's a fifty-fifty division of roles. She corrects me and I correct her."
Anna: "Without Jan, I would never have come into my own. We complement each other. And we have learned to accept each other's criticism, because we know that we both want the best for the other."
They have been living and working together since 1978. First in Follega, Friesland, then on their ship, which they christen "Herkules Seghers". A former naval barge, converted into a home and studio, complete with etching press.
From 1983 to 1995 Anna and Jan travel through the Netherlands with their "Herkules". They have set themselves the task of recording the last picturesque cityscapes. An extensive project, which already yields exclusive series of etchings in 1985 and 1986.