Max Velthuijs

Max Velthuijs

Max Velthuijs (1923–2005) was a Dutch painter, illustrator and author. He was one of the most famous children's illustrators in the Netherlands. In 2004 he received the Hans Christian Andersen Award for illustrators.[1]

Velthuijs was born in The Hague on 22 May 1923. During World War II, he sometimes assisted Jan Gregoor in forging stamps for the Dutch resistance in identity papers of people in hiding.[2]

A productive commercial artist, his first children's book commission as an illustrator was relatively late in his career in 1962, for Versjes die wij nooit vergeten / Rhymes we will never forget. This was followed two years later by A is een aapje / A is for Monkey, the success of which established his international name as a children's book illustrator. However he is most remembered for his Frog picture books, beginning with Frog in Love (Andersen Press 1989) which gained global recognition. In 2003 they were also adapted into a children's play by David Farmer (Frog in Love), performed by the Tiebreak Theatre Company at Norwich Playhouse.[3]

He died in his native The Hague on 25 January 2005.[4]

References

  1. ^ Biography at IBBY
  2. ^ Lenteren P: "Mijn hand wil altijd een andere kant op." Volkskrant 2005-01-26. Accessed 2008-05-27.
  3. ^ BBC article
  4. ^ Guardian article