Fiep Westendorp exhibition at the Rijksmuseum

An illustrator from the start

Fiep Westendorp (1916–2004) knew from a young age what she wanted to be: an illustrator. She studied first at the Koninklijke School voor Kunst, Techniek en Ambacht (Royal School of Art, Technology and Craft) in 's-Hertogenbosch, then at the Academie van Beeldende Kunsten (Academy of Visual Arts) in Rotterdam. In her early sketchbooks you see her style emerging: quick, keen-eyed, full of humour.

Drawing for het Parool

At a time when few women worked as independent illustrators, Westendorp built her own practice in Amsterdam after the war. She drew regularly for Het Parool. Her drawings for the Vrouwenpagina (the women's page) stood out: mildly ironic, contemporary, with a gaze that made daily life feel a little sharper than you'd expect.

Jip, Janneke and many others

In 1952, Jip and Janneke first appeared on the children's page of Het Parool, alongside stories by Annie M.G. Schmidt. Did you know they looked very different back then? Step by step, Westendorp took lines away. What remained are the silhouettes you'd recognise anywhere today. In the exhibition you can see the whole search unfold. Pim and Pom, Pluk van de Petteflet, Otje and Floddertje all make an appearance too.

How she worked

The exhibition does not only show the finished results, but above all how the work came about. Among her sketches, scratched-out lines and corrections, you see just how precise and patient she was. With seemingly simple lines, she could conjure a whole world. Just look at how little she needed to make Pluk cheerful, stubborn, or a little sad.

For families

There's plenty to do alongside the exhibition. On a trail through the galleries, young visitors track down the small details in her work. In the Picnic Room, families can pick up a pencil and try their own drawings and stories. There's also an audio tour with Pim and Pom, and theatre performances in the Auditorium.

Header image:

Fiep Westendorp, Siepie doesn't want to go for a walk (from: Jip en Janneke), 1976. Collection Fiep Westendorp Foundation. ©Fiep Amsterdam bv; Fiep Westendorp Foundation