View of Capri

Adrianus Johannes Zwart, known as Arie Zwart (Rijswijk, August 30, 1903 – Laren, August 27, 1981), was a Dutch painter renowned for his landscapes, floral compositions, still lifes, and interior scenes. His work is celebrated for its vibrant light, authentic atmosphere, and keen sensitivity to the natural world.

Zwart’s artistic talent emerged early. In 1914, at just eleven years old, he won a box of painting materials and earned a weekly visit to the painter Otto Kriens (1873–1930), who assessed his work and guided his first steps as a painter. He later pursued formal training for two years at the Academy of Fine Arts in The Hague.

His early work was heavily influenced by the Hague School, characterized by its muted tones and moody realism. Over time, however, Zwart evolved towards a more Naturalistic Impressionistic style, marked by luminous color palettesand an acute sense of light and mood. His mastery of atmosphere became one of the defining traits of his oeuvre. In addition to oil paintings, he created pen drawings, showcasing his versatility across media.

Zwart exhibited his work in major Dutch cities, including Rotterdam, The Hague, and Amsterdam, gaining national recognition for his evocative and accessible style.

A true nomad in spirit, Zwart often lived and worked in a caravan, and later on a houseboat named “De Trekschuit”, with which he traveled across North and South Holland, capturing the Dutch countryside and village life. His travels also took him far beyond the Netherlands — to Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, and even Tunis, always in search of new landscapes and atmospheres to paint.

Throughout his life, Zwart resided in numerous places including Rijswijk, Veur, Brabant, Gelderland, Overijssel, Zwolle, Voorburg (1952–1962), Meppel (during WWII), Alkmaar, Woerden, and finally Laren, where he passed away just days before his 78th birthday.

In 2005, his legacy was honored with a major retrospective exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum in Zwolle, accompanied by the publication of a richly illustrated monograph titled “A Nomadic Existence”, authored by Raymond Baan and Be Doorten. This publication reaffirmed Arie Zwart’s place among the most cherished Dutch painters of the 20th century.