The Rulesociety Painting

Hans Leijerzapf (1951, Leiden) likes to paint tragicomic scenes which tell the story of imperfection. Humour and self-mockery are typical in his work which is mostly anecdotal. The artist uses his paintings to hold up a mirror to his public. His figures, always strange little men, are anonymous and each time different. They are symbolic for 'the new bourgeoisie'. Stupid men with the wrong coats and rare glasses doing stupid things. Leijerzapf portrays them with compassion. "I feel sorry for these men, they're paying the price of being part of reality." His art is part of this society. The colours in his realisitc paintings are warm and bright and his brush technique is supple and smooth. Leijerzapf has become not only a national painter but has regained international recognition as well.