Figures in theatre

Cees Bantzinger (1914-1985) studied at the Institute of Arts and Crafts in Amsterdam. During that time, he developed an interest in drawing from live models, something he continued to do in his subsequent career.

During his studies, Bantzinger made his debut as an illustrator in the De Groene Amsterdammer. Together with Eppo Doeve and Jo Spier, he became a well-known illustrator of daily and weekend newspapers. From 1937, he took classes at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten van Amsterdam.

More than a year later, Bantzinger undertook a foot trip through Belgium, Switzerland and Italy and took drawing lessons with Johannes Itten. Here he was taught how to work with different materials and was also introduced to the methods of the Bauhaus.

Returning from his trip, he immediately had to do his military service. He spent his spare time drawing atmospheric pictures of life in the barracks and making murals in the soldiers’ canteen.

After the war, Bantzinger started working in theatre, drawing various actors and actresses, standing between the wings and in city theatres. He often drew Chinese men and women and did many female studies. He drew in both charcoal and ink during these years.

In the summer of 1956, Bantzinger studied at the International Summer Academy Die Schule des Sehens in Salzburg, where he was taught by Oskar Kokoschka. He also worked as an illustrator for Elsevier, Vrij Nederland, Mandril, and Het Vrije Volk. Bantzinger travelled through India, Portugal, Israel, Greece, Japan and the United States, among others.

Bantzinger was married to resistance fighter and singer Jetty Paerl with whom he had a daughter.

In 1985, Bantzinger committed suicide after a journalist confronted him shortly before with a number of letters showing that he had been a member of the NSB for six months at the beginning of the war.