Book Review. Jan Mankes: Beautiful Things Are So Simple.

With these poignant words, the Dutch artist Jan Mankes summed up his own artistic philosophy. But how does a painter manage to evoke a profound, almost spiritual stillness through seemingly ordinary subjects — a solitary bird, a modest still life, or a contemplative self-portrait? The art book Jan Mankes: Mooie dingen zijn zoo eenvoudig (Beautiful Things Are So Simple), published by Waanders Uitgevers, invites readers to leave behind the hectic pace of modern life and enter the fragile world of one of the Netherlands’ most beloved masters.

Jan Mankes (1889–1920) led a short yet exceptionally intense artistic life. Although he lived apart from the bustling avant-garde movements of his time, he developed a wholly distinctive style in which meticulous precision and poetic dreaminess come together.

This beautiful 192-page hardcover book was published in Dutch by Waanders Uitgevers to coincide with a major pair of exhibitions held simultaneously in 2025 at Museum Arnhem and Museum Belvédère. The publication features texts by Stefan Kuiper, Froukje Pitstra and Marlene Deutinger, while the catalogue raisonné was meticulously compiled by Jan de Lange and Maarten van Doremalen.

Rather than offering merely a biographical sketch, the book explores how Mankes transformed everyday motifs into timeless works of art. From 12 September 2026, nearly 30 major works will be on display at Museum MORE-Twickel in the exhibition Jan Mankes | The Supernatural in Nature.

This book leaves a profound and calming impression. The authors and editors approach Mankes’ work with great respect and scholarly precision. The visual presentation of this publication is of an exceptionally high standard. The reproductions beautifully capture the delicate layering, subtle use of colour and characteristic transparency of Mankes’ oil painting technique. The illustrations of animals, in particular, and the carefully documented catalogue raisonné are invaluable to art lovers and researchers alike.

For readers primarily seeking a compelling, narrative account of the artist’s life, the emphasis in this volume — as befits a catalogue of this kind — lies firmly on documentation and visual presentation.

Jan Mankes: Mooie dingen zijn zoo eenvoudig is an aesthetic masterpiece that demonstrates how the greatest power can reside in the simplest things. It is an indispensable reference work and an unreserved recommendation for art lovers and collectors.

Larysa Sidak, 2026.