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| 1966 Balet got divorced from his wife Lisa and he returned to Munich. He started to make children's books again and he painted his impressions of his journeys. He arranged his own exhibition in Munich and sold his pictures. 1973 he settled with Claudia, which was actually called Gerda C. Foth, to ] in ], very close to ]. He now lived in the country, the area which had always inspired him at the most. He had increasing success with painting and didn't need to produce commercial art any more. 1976 Balet received the order of an art dealer to make a certain annual number of lithographs in Switzerland. The art dealer |
1966 Balet got divorced from his wife Lisa and he returned to Munich. He started to make children's books again and he painted his impressions of his journeys. He arranged his own exhibition in Munich and sold his pictures. 1973 he settled with Claudia, which was actually called Gerda C. Foth, to ] in ], very close to ]. He now lived in the country, the area which had always inspired him at the most. He had increasing success with painting and didn't need to produce commercial art any more. 1976 Balet received the order of an art dealer to make a certain annual number of lithographs in Switzerland. The art dealer ''Circle Fine Art'' arranged several exhibitions of these lithographs in different countries, first in the context of a large art exhibition in ]. 1978 Claudia and Balet moved to ] on Neuenburger Lake in Switzerlandus, in order not having to drive so far to ] to do his lithograph work. Coincidentally his ancestors on the paternal side originated from the area, from ] in ]. There the half of the people are named ''Balet''. | ||
| == Art work == | == Art work == | ||
Revision as of 13:51, 27 October 2010
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Jan Balet (20 July 1913, in Bremen - 31 January 2009, Estavayer le Lac, Switzerland), was a famous German/US-American painter, graphic artist and illustrator. Affected by the style naive art he worked particularly as a graphic artist and as an Illustrator of children's books. Besides this he painted pictures in the style of naive art. Referred to as a “naïve” painter, his works exhibit a dry wit and refreshingly candid, satirical view of life.
Life
Childhood
Balet was son of German/Dutch parents. 1916 after the divorce of his parents he and his mother moved to Langenargen at lake constance in Germany to his mother's parents. His grandfather was the senior judicial counsellor Eduard Eggert, his uncle was the famous painter and illustrator Benno Eggert. At that time many well-known personalities kept company in the house of his grandfather, f.e. the painters Hans Purrmann, Karl Caspar, Maria Caspar-Filser (cousin of his mother), the writer Martin Andersen Nexø, the Swabian poet Wilhelm Schussen as well as the poet and writer Oskar Wöhrle, Balets godfather. 1920 his grandfather sold the house in Langenargen and they moved to Friedrichshafen at lake constance.
School time
1920 Balet started school. After the death of his grandfather 1926 Balet was sent to the public school Schule Schloss Salem (Germany), because his mother and his grandmother had difficulties bringing him up. The stay at public school did not last long. 1927 as a 14-year old they sent him to Munich to the Hansa home, a strictly catholic house. There he visited grammar school. Balet left school before finishing the sixth class, in order to make an apprenticeship in a painter's shop. He cut the apprenticeship short, before the 2nd year terminated.
Studies
1929 at the age of 17 he moved to Berlin on invitation of his father and studied at the college of arts to learn drawing. 1930 he moved back to his mother and his grandmother, which had moved to Munich in the meantime. After he got sacked from the college of arts in Munich 1932 he was accommodated in the private school of professor Ege, a school for commercial art. Beside that Balet worked in an institute for lithography and for the art gallery Wallach. With 19 years Balet rented his first small studio, where he manufactured hand colored Bavarian woodcuts for Dirndl and successfully sold them. 1934 he passed the entrance examination on the Akademie der Bildenden Künste München and learned to draw from Olaf Gulbransson.
Emigration to the USA
1938 he was recruited by the German military. Since his ancestor passport was not complete, he was not allowed to visit the Akademie der Bildenden Künste München any more. 1938 Balet emigrated to the USA, settled in New York and painted rustic furniture for a living. One winter he jobbed as a skiing teacher in Vermont and occasionally he jobbed as an advertising commercial artist. Among other things he painted the cafeteria of the largest of New Yorks department stores R.H. Macy. He married the young Irishwoman Bertha Quinn. 1940 his son Peter was born. From time to time Balet made designs for the fashion magazine Mademoiselle and there 1943 he succeeded the art director. An agent got Balet so many contracts as an advertising commercial artist that he gave up his employment and started his own business. He worked on behalf the radio station CBS, for magazines such as Vogue, House and Garden, House Beautiful, The Saturday Evening Post, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, This week and many others. As the war in Europe came to an end 1945 he acquired the U.S. American nationality. His son was 5 when his wife moved to her parents with the boy and Balet and his Mrs. Bertha Quinn got divorced. Balet commuted between his studio in New York and an old, boat house in the dunes of Montauk, Long Island, which he had converted to a studio. He painted and drew. At that time he also made his first children book Amos and the moon, which appeared 1948. When travelling to Europe became possible again after the war, Balet visited his mother and his grandmother in Munich for the first since his emigration and afterwards he spent two months in Paris. His stay in Paris was very much inspiring for his future work. 1949 his grandmother died at the age of 93 years. His grandmother was (by his own account) "the most important and dearest person" in his life. At this time he got together with the American photo model Lisa Tallal, which he persuaded to study medicine. Balet sold his boat house and found his dream house, an old farmhouse in Brookville (New York), likewise on Long Island however more closely to New York. Lisa and him married after a few years. Balet barely did any paintings any more, because he had to paint commercial art, as the lifestyle of his wife was very exclusive. On his journeys to Europe and Mexico Balet photographed a lot, since there was not sufficient time for drawing. Balet painted his own style, although at that time in America Abstract, Op-art and Popart were in demand. 1963 his mother died and he inherited the house in Munich. 1964 he, as a former pupil of Olaf Gulbransson, was invited of the city of Munich, to make an exhibition in the Pavillon Alter Botanischer Garten Stachus. A part of this exhibition consisted of children's books and illustrations, the other part of commercial graphics. after good critics in the press the pictures were sold completely. This encouraged Balet to keep on painting in his special style.
Return to Europe
1966 Balet got divorced from his wife Lisa and he returned to Munich. He started to make children's books again and he painted his impressions of his journeys. He arranged his own exhibition in Munich and sold his pictures. 1973 he settled with Claudia, which was actually called Gerda C. Foth, to La Landelle in France, very close to Paris. He now lived in the country, the area which had always inspired him at the most. He had increasing success with painting and didn't need to produce commercial art any more. 1976 Balet received the order of an art dealer to make a certain annual number of lithographs in Switzerland. The art dealer Circle Fine Art arranged several exhibitions of these lithographs in different countries, first in the context of a large art exhibition in Paris. 1978 Claudia and Balet moved to Estavayer le Lac on Neuenburger Lake in Switzerlandus, in order not having to drive so far to Zurich to do his lithograph work. Coincidentally his ancestors on the paternal side originated from the area, from Grimisuat in Valais. There the half of the people are named Balet.
Art work
Own publications (Children books and sketch books)
- 1948 Amos and the moon, Henry Z. Walck Verlag New York
- 1949 Ned, Ed and the lion
- 1951 What makes an orchestra
- 1959 The five Rollatinis, J. B. Lippincott Co. Verlag New York
- 1965 Joanjo, Pharos Verlag Basel
- 1966 Das Geschenk Eine portugiesische Weihnachtsgeschichte, Betz-Verlag München
- 1967 Der König und der Besenbinder, Betz-Verlag München
- 1969 Der Zaun, Otto Maier Verlag München
- 1969 Ladismaus, Betz-Verlag München
- 1979 Ein Skizzenbuch, Windecker Winkelpresse
- 1980 Katzen-Skizzen, Windecker Winkelpresse
- 1981 Skizzen-Paare, Windecker Winkelpresse
- 1981 Die Leihkatze oder Wie man Katzen lieben lernt, Windecker Winkelpresse (Author: Otto Schönberger)
- 1982 Paris-Skizzen, Windecker Winkelpresse
- 1984 Hellas-Skizzen, Windecker Winkelpresse
- 1993 Wasser-Skizzen, Edition Toni Pongratz
- 1994 Die Zeppeline des Jan Balet, Zeppelin-Museum Friedrichshafen (Taschenbuch)
- 2008 Angekommen: Gedichte (Author: Hans Skupy)
Publicationen, which Jan Balet illustrated
- 1945 Alarcon, P.A.: Tales from the Spanish, Allentown
- 1948 Hanle-Zack, D.: The golden ladle, Chicago-New York
- 1952 Wing, H.: Rosalinda, Chicago
- 1953 Wing, H.: The lazy lion, Chicago
- 1954 Jones, P.: Rumpelstiltskin, Chicago
- 1955 Jones, P.: Columbine, Chicago
- 1956 Jones, P.: Fair, brown and trembling, Chicago
- 1957 Bean blossom hill, Chicago
- 1958 King, M.B.: The birthday angel, Chicago
- 1959 King, M.B.: Papa Pompino, Chicago
- 1960 King, M.B.: The snow queen, Chicago
- 1960 Doyle, L.: Turkey and ham, New York
- 1962 Andersen, H.C.: The princess on the pea and other famous stories, New York
- 1963 Dickens, Ch.: The magic fishbone and other famous stories, New York
- 1963 Selden, G.: Mice, monks and the Christmas tree, New York
- 1964 Rossetti, C.: Adding a poem, New York
- 1967 Just one me, Chicago
- 1968 Krüss, J.: Ein- Eich & Mondhorn, München
- 1986 Schönberger, O.: Die Leihkatze oder wie man Katzen lieben lernt, Frankfurt
Awards and honours
- 1947 Gold Medal, Art Directors Club of New York
- 1948 Best of Industry, Direct Mail Award
- 1948 Gold Medal, Art Directors Club of New York
- 1948 Merit Award, Art Institute of Chicago
- 1949 Merit Award, Art Institute of Chicago
- 1950 Merit Award, Art Institute of Chicago
- 1952 Award, Book Clinic, Chicago
- 1954 Merit Award, Art Directors Club of Chicago
- 1954 Award for Merit, Art Directors Club of New York
- 1954 Certificate of Excellence, American Institute of Graphic Arts, New York
- 1956 Award, Book Clinic, Chicago
- 1956 Gold Medal, Art Directors Club of New York
- 1956 Gold Medal, Art Directors Club of Detroit
- 1956 Silver Medal, Art Directors Club of Detroit
- 1957 Certificate of Excellence, Society of Typographic Arts, Chicago
- 1957 Certificate of Merit, Art Directors Club of New York
- 1958 Certificate of Excellence, Society of Typographic Arts, Chicago
- 1959 Certificate of Excellence, Society of Typographic Arts, Chicago
- 1959 Citation for Merit, Society of Illustrators, New York
- 1960 Citation for Merit, Society of Illustrators, New York
- 1960 Award, Book Clinic, Chicago
- 1962 Citation for Merit, Society of Illustrators, New York
- 1965 Grammy Awards of 1965, Best Album Cover - Classical, Robert M. Jones (art director) & Jan Balet (graphic artist) for Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals/Britten: Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra conducted by Arthur Fiedler
- 1980 Prix d'honneur, Concours International de la Peinture Naive, Morges/Suisse
- 1981 Prix d'argent, Concours International de la Peinture Naive, Morges/Suisse
Exhibitions
- 1964 München, Pavillon Alter Botanischer Garten
- 1966 München, Pavillon Alter Botanischer Garten
- 1967 Berlin, Kunstamt Tiergarten
- 1968 Waiblingen, Rathaus
- 1969 Düsseldorf, Galerie Vömel
- 1971 Hamburg, Atelier Mensch
- 1972 Bremen, Paule-Modersohn-Becker-Haus
- 1972 Berlin, Galerie Niebuhr
- 1972 München, Pavillon Alter Botanischer Garten
- 1972 Düsseldorf, Galerie Vömel
- 1973 Hamburg Atelier Mensch
- 1974 Zürich Galerie Niggli
- 1975 Düsseldorf, Galerie Vömel
- 1976 Hamburg, Atelier Mensch
- 1976 Paris, FIAC
- 1977 Washington, ART Washington
- 1977 New York, Studio 53
- 1977 Basel, ART 77
- 1977 Bologna, Arte Fiera 77
- 1977 Knokke, Jacobean Gallery
- 1977 München, Galerie Schöninger
- 1977 San Francisco, Cory Gallery
- 1977 Marblehead, Quadrum Gallery
- 1977 Königstein, Galerie Spranger
- 1977 Köln, Galerie Orange
- 1978 Amsterdam, Galerie Spranger
- 1978 Washington, ART Washington
- 1978 Basel, ART 78
- 1978 Klosters, Galerie 63
- 1978 Los Angeles, Upstairs Gallery
- 1978 Long Beach, Upstairs Gallery
- 1978 Northridge, Upstairs Gallery
- 1978 Beverly Hills, Upstairs Gallery
- 1978 Orange County, Upstairs Gallery
- 1978 San Francisco, Cory Gallery
- 1978 Siegburg, Galerie Theisen
- 1978 Düsseldorf, Internationaler Kunstmarkst
- 1979 Vervier/Belgien, Galerie Keuninckx
- 1979 Berlin, Galerie Wölffer
- 1979 Basel, ART 78
- 1979 München, Galerie Charlotte
- 1979 Düsseldorf, Galerie Vömel
- 1980 Hamburg, Atelier Mensch
- 1980 Morges, Galeris Pro Arte
- 1980 Ascona, Galleria Associazione Artisti
- 1980 Amsterdam, Galerie Hamer
- 1981 Oisterwijk, Galerie de Granzerik
- 1981 Cartigny-Genève, Galerie L'Escapade
- 1982 Caracas, Galeria Contini
- 1982 Basel, Art 82
- 1982 Düsseldorf, Galerie Vömel
- 1983 Hamburg, Atelier Mensch
- 1983 Caracas, Galeria Contini
- 1983 Lima, Galeria Trapezio
- 1983 Langenargen, Museum
- 1984 München, Stadtmuseum
- 1985 New York, Circle Gallery
- 1986 New York, Jack Gallery
- 1987 Brüssel, International Centre of Naive Art
- 1988-1991 Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, San Francisco, Miami, Los Angeles
- 1992 Tokio, Galerie Naif Tanaka
- 1994 Friedrichshafen, Zeppelinmuseum
- 1996 Nonnenhorn am Bodensee, Galerie Probst
- 1997 Asbach Kreis Passau, Museum Kloster Asbach
- 1998 Zürich oder Bern, Galerie Zum Grauen Wind
- 1999 Zürich, Galerie Wolfsberg
- 1999 Rheinfelden, Haus Salmegg
- 2001 Zug, Altstadthaus
- 2002 München, Galerie Hell
- 2004 München, Galerie Hell
- 2008 Worb, Atelier Worb
- 2008 Bad Saulgau, Galerie "Die Fähre"
Balet’s works are in permanent museum collections in Europe, including the Stadt Museum in Munich, the Regierungspräsidium in Tübingen, the Kunsthalle in Bremen and the Langenargen Museum at lake constance.
Literature
- R. Zuck, Naive Malerei, M./W. 1974
- Jan Balet, Gemälde – Zeichnungen – Graphik – Museum Langenargen am Bodensee, 1983
- Nebojsa Tomasevic, World Encyclopaedia of Naive Art, Frederick Muller Ltd, 1984
- O. Bihalji-Merin, Die Naiven der Welt, Eltville 1986
- Die Zeppeline des Jan Balet. Katalog der Ausstellung im Zeppelin-Museum Friedrichshafen 8. Juni 1994 - 31. Juli 1994.
- Marcus, Leonard S.: 75 Years of Children's Book Week Posters: Celebrating Great Illustrators of American Children's Books, New York 1994
- Klaus Doderer, Lexikon der Kinder- und Jugendliteratur, Beltz, 1995
External links
- Illustrations by Jan Balet: http://www.flickr.com/photos/leifpeng/sets/1477407/
- Blog about Jan Balet: http://todaysinspiration.blogspot.com/2009/02/jan-balet-1913-2009.html
- German Wiki-site: http://de.wikipedia.org/Jan_Balet