Looking back on 2012

In 2012, I continued working on the series Functional Things on the Wall.

The second painting caused me a sleepless night when I realized that the creator of the painting with the bowl of cherries, Jan Voerman Jr., had only died in 1976. Copyright expires 70 years after the death of the creator, so it was still in force. In a slight panic, I removed the photo of the painting from my website. I now know that things are not as bad as they seem.

Stichting Pictoright, the copyright organization for visual artists, applies four principles. First, it looks at the artistic significance of the new work: to what extent is it different from the original? Second, it states that the use must be proportional, noting that tall trees catch a lot of wind. In other words, it is more justified to use the work of well-known artists. Thirdly, it must be clear which part of the work has been borrowed from someone else and, finally, it is polite to give credit.

I myself apply a fifth rule: if the creator is still alive, I try to track them down to inform them of my activities.

1. Untitled, oil on panel, 18 x 24.5 cm, 2012

2. Untitled, oil on panel, 40 x 80 cm, 2012, courtesy of Jan Voerman Jr.

3. Untitled, oil on panel, 44 x 41 cm, 2012

4. Untitled, oil on panel, 2012, 40 x 62 cm, 2012, courtesy of Jan Mankes

5. Untitled, oil on panel, 110 x 110 cm, 2012, courtesy of Frans Hals

6. Untitled, oil on canvas, 60 x 90 cm, 2012, courtesy of Daniël Seeghers