Sonsbeek ‘49: European Sculpture in the Open Air
1 July – 18 September 1949, Park Sonsbeek, Arnhem
Inleiding
In 1949, a remarkable exhibition took place in Park Sonsbeek in Arnhem: Sonsbeek ’49 – European Sculpture in the Open Air. The memory of World War II was still fresh, and the city clearly bore the scars of the bombings. Sonsbeek ’49 offered the people of Arnhem a sense of hope and recovery, attracting approximately 125,000 visitors who came to admire the sculptures in the park.
Around this time, many war monuments were being created throughout the Netherlands. Interest in these was also evident at Sonsbeek ’49: of the 199 works on display, many sculptures later found a permanent place as memorials.
The selection of artworks was carried out by a special jury, including members of the Dutch Circle of Sculptors. This gave many Dutch artists an opportunity to participate—about three-quarters of the participants—but artists from Belgium, France, Denmark, Austria, and Switzerland were also represented. In addition to the sculptures in the park, there was a small pavilion where smaller works could be viewed.
The success of this first edition led to follow-up exhibitions in 1952, 1955, and 1958, which had a similar setup in Park Sonsbeek and laid the foundation for Sonsbeek’s long-standing international reputation.
Artists
- Mari Andriessen
- Nel Bakema
- Ernst Barlach
- Joseph Bernard
- G. Bolhuis
- Emile A. Bourdelle
- Lidi Buma van Mourik Broekman
- Jozef Cantré
- Fred Carasso
- Jozef Mendes da Costa
- Wessel Couzijn
- Pearl Couzijn-Perlmuter
- Charles Despiau
- Ab Diekerhof
- Theo Dobbelman
- Frank Dobson
- Emil Epplé
- Jacob Epstein
- Vincent P.S. Esser
- Adam Fischer
- Pablo Gargallo
- Paul Gregoire
- Pier A. de Groot
- John Grosman
- Jørgen Gudmundsen-Holmgreen
- Ben Guntenaar
- Frits J. van Hall
- Jan Willem Havermans
- Chr. Hassoldt
- Fri Heil
- Joop C. Hekman
- Henk Henriët
- Frederik Hoevenagel
- Gijs Jacobs van den Hof
- Pieter D’Hont
- Ivo van der Horst
- Hans Ittmann
- Nel Klaassen
- Georg Kolbe
- Paul Ph. Koning
- Hildo Krop
- Titus Leeser
- Wilhelm Lehmbruck
- Charles Leplae
- Johan Limpers
- Jacques Lipchitz
- Hubert van Lith
- Aristide Maillol
- Raymond Martin
- Jan P. W. Meefout
- Louise van Luyn-Metz
- Constant Meunier
- George Minne
- Henry Moore
- Th. Von der Nahmer
- Baronesse Charlotte D. van Pallandt
- Johan Polet
- Henri Puvrez
- Jacob Probst
- Hanni Raedecker
- John. A. Raedecker
- Hans Reicher
- Auguste Renoir
- Willem Reyers
- Han Richters
- Auguste Rodin
- Jacob M. Roosenburg
- Gra J.W. Rueb
- Gerarda Rueter
- Coen Schilt
- Kees Schrikker
- Frits Sieger
- L. H. Sondaar
- Henrik Starcke
- Cephas Stauthamer
- Cor van Teeseling
- Albert Termote
- Gerrit van der Veen
- Johannes P. C. Verhulst
- Charles Weddepohl
- Johannes Gustaaf Wertheim
- Han Wezelaar
- Ybe van der Wielen
- Fritz Wotruba
- Rik Wouters
- Lambertus Zijl
- Johan van Zweden
- Henk J.M. Zweerus
- Ossip Zadkine
Location
- Park Sonsbeek
Facts and figures
125,000 visitors · 3 out of 4 artists from the Netherlands · 199 artworks
Publication
— Catalog · Sonsbeek ’49: Europese Beeldhouwkunst in de Open Lucht, 1949 · Design/Editor: Gemeentemuseum Arnhem · Publisher: Vada, Wageningen
