Alexandrine
Background: In 1916 Alexandrine left Indonesia for the Netherlands, at the age of 13.
Profession/occupation: housewife.
Art form/medium: painting.
Start artwork: in 1960 during a stay in Vence, southern France, an immediate revelation for herself.
Relevant info: she drew inspiration of the Indonesian jungle from her youth, later on from Henry Rousseau.
(Solo-) exhibitions: 1964 Paris Benezit Gallery; 1976 Haarlem, Frans Hals Museum.
References: Bihalji-Merin, Oto, a.o.; World Encyclopedia of Naive Art, Belgrade 1984; Jakovsky, Anatole, Peintres Naifs, Basel 1976, p. 74; Van der Endt, Nico; Lexicon Nederlandse naïeve kunst van de twintigste eeuw / Lexicon of twentieth century Dutch naïve art, Venlo/Antwerpen, 1995, pp. 16-17.
In her childhood she enjoyed the exotic nature of her birthplace. In 1916, in early adolescence, she was forced to leave for the Netherlands, where her Indonesian appearance aroused critical looks. The sudden change from one country to another caused her much suffering and Holland never inspired her. Nevertheless she married a Dutchman, the painter and sculptor Toon Kelder, by whom she had two children. In 1960 she spent a few months in Vence in southern France, where the Mediterranean environment reminded her of her youth. To express her joy she began to paint. Upon returning to the Netherlands she continued painting, her memories remaining fresh.
Born amidst a tropical, exuberant environment, this born painter always retained, in her subconscience, those nostalgic memories, a veritable thorn in the heart.
1903 Jakarta, Java, Indonesia - 1980 Den Haag, Netherlands
