Max Velthuijs
Encyclopedia
Max Velthuijs was a Dutch
painter, illustrator and author. He was one of the most famous children's illustrators in the Netherlands
. In 2004 he received the Hans Christian Andersen Award
for illustrators.
Velthuijs was born in The Hague
on 22 May 1923. During World War II
, he sometimes assisted Jan Gregoor
in forging stamps for the Dutch resistance
in identity papers of people in hiding.
A productive commercial artist, his first children's book commission as an illustrator was relatively late in his career in 1962, for Versjes die wij nooit vergeten / Rhymes we will never forget. This was followed two years later by A is een aapje / A is for Monkey, the success of which established his international name as a children's book illustrator. However he is most remembered for his Frog picture books, beginning with Frog in Love (Andersen Press
1989) which gained global recognition. In 2003 they were also adapted into a children's play by David Farmer
(Frog in Love), performed by the Tiebreak Theatre Company at Norwich Playhouse
.
He died in his native The Hague
on 25 January 2005.
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
painter, illustrator and author. He was one of the most famous children's illustrators in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. In 2004 he received the Hans Christian Andersen Award
Hans Christian Andersen Award
The Hans Christian Andersen Award, sometimes known as the "Nobel Prize for children's literature", is an international award given biennially by the International Board on Books for Young People in recognition of a "lasting contribution to children's literature"...
for illustrators.
Velthuijs was born in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
on 22 May 1923. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he sometimes assisted Jan Gregoor
Jan Gregoor
Johannes Jacobus Gregoor was a Dutch painter and art educator. His works were extensively exhibited in art galleries and museums throughout the Netherlands. He taught art at the Design Academy Eindhoven, alongside Kees Bol....
in forging stamps for the Dutch resistance
Dutch resistance
Dutch resistance to the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during World War II can be mainly characterized by its prominent non-violence, summitting in over 300,000 people in hiding in the autumn of 1944, tended to by some 60,000 to 200,000 illegal landlords and caretakers and tolerated knowingly...
in identity papers of people in hiding.
A productive commercial artist, his first children's book commission as an illustrator was relatively late in his career in 1962, for Versjes die wij nooit vergeten / Rhymes we will never forget. This was followed two years later by A is een aapje / A is for Monkey, the success of which established his international name as a children's book illustrator. However he is most remembered for his Frog picture books, beginning with Frog in Love (Andersen Press
Andersen Press
Andersen Press is a British book publishing company. It was founded in 1976 by Klaus Flugge, and was named after Hans Christian Andersen. Random House has a holding in the company and has a strong association with Andersen....
1989) which gained global recognition. In 2003 they were also adapted into a children's play by David Farmer
David Farmer
David Farmer is a theatre director, playwright, drama consultant and yoga teacher.- Biography :Trained as a primary school teacher, David Farmer worked first as an actor and teacher before setting up Tiebreak Theatre Company in 1981...
(Frog in Love), performed by the Tiebreak Theatre Company at Norwich Playhouse
Norwich Playhouse
The Norwich Playhouse is a theatre in St George's Street, Norwich, Norfolk, England. It opened in 1995 in a nineteenth century building that was once a maltings, and is a venue for theatre, comedy, music and other performing arts. It seats 300. It has as its patron actor and comedian Stephen...
.
He died in his native The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
on 25 January 2005.