Background
He was born to a family of diamond merchants and his father worked as a stockbroker.
graphic artist painter draughtsperson
He was born to a family of diamond merchants and his father worked as a stockbroker.
Rather than follow in the family business, he chose a career in art, studying at the "Institute for Applied Arts" (1892–1895), the "State Normal School for Applied Arts" (1895–1899) and the Rijksakademie (1899–1905), where he worked with August Allebé and Nicolaas van der Waay.
That same year, he and his family moved back to Amsterdam. In Laren, he had focused on painting rural interiors and still lifes. Once he had become established in Amsterdam, he mostly produced portraits and interior scenes with elegantly dressed women.
He then became active in the Resistance, helping to forge false "Persoonsbewijzen" (Identity Cards).
On August 6, 1943, he was arrested and sent to Auschwitz, by way of the Westerbork transit camp, and was put to death. His students managed to save the contents of his studio before they were confiscated.
In 1938, he became a member of Arti"s Board of Directors, but was expelled from the organization in 1941, by orders of the German occupation command.