THE HAGUE.- In the 1950’s, a uniquely innovative and experimental art movement began to flourish in The Hague: the New Hague School. Inspired by the motto ‘Freedom above all, the artists who were active in this movement between 1945 and 1975 rejected the respectable image of their predecessors in the Hague School. The New Hague School artists’ work is characterised by an exuberant use of colour. They expressed themselves in many ways, including abstract, non-figurative and modern figurative art. With this small exhibition – which marks the release of the publication by the same name, The New Hague School, 1945-1975, Freedom above all (2025, WBooks) by Saskia Gras – the Kunstmuseum hopes to draw renewed attention to a dynamic period in art history.

The New Hague School

The exhibition focuses on the diversity that existed in the postwar artistic community in The Hague, with particular attention to works by artists who tended to be overlooked at the time, including Jenny Dalenoord, Jan van Heel, Quirine Collard and Willem Schrofer. All works on display are from the museum’s own collection, with the exception of a number of remarkable posters from a private collection.

Words to live by

‘As the birds sing, so we should work,’ said artist Paul Citroen. Freedom of form and expression were key: tender and delicate for one, loud and raucous for another. In The Hague, subtle figuration and radical expression went hand in hand. ‘Freedom above all’ was more than an artistic motto. It was a shared emotion and philosophy of life that deeply impacted The Hague’s artistic community and its institutions.

Publication

The richly illustrated book The New Hague School, 1945-1975, Freedom above all offers an overview of the major artists’ groups of the postwar era, such as Verve, De Nieuwe Ploeg, the Posthoorn Group, Equipe and Fugare. The publication also includes biographies of influential artists such as Paul Citroen, Lotti van der Gaag, Piet Ouborg, Co Westerik and many others. It is available in the museum shop.