Jopie Huisman - The first and the last shoes

Jopie Huisman was born on October 18, 1922 in Workum. His real name is Jotje, but his nickname is Jopie. That is also the name that everyone in the Netherlands - and far beyond - knows. Jopie was a special and authentic resident of Workum. He himself thought Workum was paradise on earth. Jopie said: "Heaven can never be more beautiful than this for me." Jopie obtained his diploma for house painter at the age of 14. He eventually started working as a painter at a pottery factory in Workum. He taught himself the trade of artist. In 1963 he had his first exhibition in Harlingen. In the seventies his painting took on a different character. He painted about more penetrating subjects and his technique became increasingly realistic. It is mainly these works that made him famous.



A woman from Workum offered me an old cupboard for sale. When she opened the door of the cupboard, she said: 'Damn, there are mother's first and her last shoes'. I thought: 'I always buy them for a few cents'. But when I told her that I wanted to buy the cupboard, but with the shoes, she didn't agree. They weren't for sale. I said: 'Woman, we'll do it differently. You keep the shoes, but I'll make a nice drawing of them. To me, they prove that your mother was there, her whole life is in between.' 'What a strange man you are', she said, 'just take them with you and I don't want them back either.' Later, at home, I found a proverb from Ecclesiastes on a wad from one of the noses: 'For that which is not, cannot be counted.'

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