Archive with Daniël Groen’s letters to the RKD

Daniël Groen

Daniël Gustaaf Groen was born in 1957 in Ubach over Worms in Limburg and grew up in Alkmaar. After being admitted to the Rijksacademie, he moved to Amsterdam. In this city he worked as a collagist, painter, sculptor and illustrator. He made a name for himself in the 1980s with his figurative drawings, which were characterized by their striking use of color. In 2001, the artist made an end to his life. Groens' work is well represented in important Dutch public collections. The Kunstmuseum Den Haag, Centraal Museum Utrecht and the Kröller-Müller Museum, among others, have works by Daniël Groen in their collections.

Illustrated letters

Daniël Groen's archive consists of hundreds of letters written to A & A: fellow artist Anthonie van der Veen (working under the name Anthonie Sas) and to his wife Ankie. The letters were written from the 1980s until 2001. Anthonie van der Veen was Daniel Groen's handicrafts teacher in the 1970s. He remained Groen's mentor and friend throughout his further career. Groen frequently wrote several letters a day and often provided his correspondence with unusual illustrations and sketches. He sent his letters from 'Chateau de la merde', as he called his squatted studio on the Derde Wittenburgerdwarsstraat. Interestingly, some of the letters are to be read from right to left. This may have to do with the fact that Groen's father was of Jewish descent.

Acquisition for the RKD

Thanks to Elisabeth Eyl (Groen’s ex-wife), her and Daniël's son Noa Eyl and the Anthonie Sas Foundation, represented by Anthonie van der Veen, the archive of Daniël Groen could be transferred to the RKD. This will allow the illustrated letters of Groen to be preserved under the right conditions, available for future research.