Anton Pieck


Anton Franciscus Pieck was a Dutch painter, artist and graphic artist. His are noted for their nostalgic or fairy tale-like character and are widely popular, appearing regularly on cards and calendars. He is also famous for designing the fairy tale forest in Dutch theme park De Efteling.

Biography

Anton Franciscus Pieck was born on 19 April 1895 in Den Helder in the Netherlands. He was the son of Henri Christiaan Pieck and Petronella Neijfs, and twin brother of the painter and illustrator Henri Christiaan Pieck. Pieck married Jo van Poelvoorde in 1922. The couple had three children, Elsa, Anneke and Max.
Between 1912 and 1920 Pieck was an art teacher at the Bik en Vaandrager Institute in The Hague. He took the same job at the Kennemer Lyceum in Overveen, where he worked until 1960. From the 1920s on he became well known for his book illustrations, which among others were published in the Dutch children's magazine Zonneschijn. Some of these were presented in a text comics format. His most famous book illustrations were Grimm's Fairy Tales and Arabian Nights. Pieck was furthermore a painter of nostalgic 19th century city scenes and winter scenes, which are still popular to this day as images on greeting cards and calendars.
, with the typical Anton Pieck colors

Efteling

From 1952 to 1974, Pieck was responsible for designing almost everything for fairy tale park Efteling in Kaatsheuvel, now one of the major theme parks in Europe. His work for the Efteling has been of huge importance for the future of the park, since almost all later designers used his graphic characteristics in their designs.

Anton Pieck Museum

In 1984 the Anton Pieck Museum was opened at the Achterstraat in Hattem. The museum is called "Huis voor Anton Pieck". It exhibits various art works by Pieck.

Trivia