Who painted Het bevrijdingsfeest op de Dam op 9 mei 1945?

Het bevrijdingsfeest op de Dam op 9 mei 1945 was painted by Jan Grégoire in 1945.

Where can I see Het bevrijdingsfeest op de Dam op 9 mei 1945?

Het bevrijdingsfeest op de Dam op 9 mei 1945 is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Het bevrijdingsfeest op de Dam op 9 mei 1945?

Het bevrijdingsfeest op de Dam op 9 mei 1945 is associated with Regionalism.

Artwork

Het bevrijdingsfeest op de Dam op 9 mei 1945

Jan Grégoire , 1945

Het bevrijdingsfeest op de Dam op 9 mei 1945 is an oil painting by the Regionalist artist Jan Grégoire. It dates from 1945 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Jan Grégoire’s 1945 oil on canvas entitled Het bevrijdingsfeest op de Dam op 9 mei 1945 captures the immediate post‑war celebration on Amsterdam’s central square. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and measures the exuberance of a nation marking its liberation with a densely packed crowd, fluttering flags and a festive atmosphere.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a massive assemblage of citizens gathered on the Dam, waving red, white and blue banners and chanting slogans such as “Indonesië.” A richly appointed carriage occupies the foreground, suggesting official participation, while the surrounding throng conveys collective relief and national pride at the end of occupation.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil, Grégoire employs a loose, impressionistic brushwork that softens the sky and renders the multitude of figures as a textured mass rather than detailed portraits. The palette is dominated by muted pastels for the background and vivid primary colours for the flags, creating a visual contrast between the orderly architecture and the lively crowd.

History & Provenance

Painted in the same year as the events it records, the canvas entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings shortly after its completion, reflecting the institution’s commitment to documenting contemporary Dutch history. Its acquisition underscores the museum’s role in preserving visual testimonies of the nation’s wartime experiences.

Context

The scene unfolds on 9 May 1945, the day the Netherlands celebrated liberation from German occupation. The inclusion of the department store De Bijenkorf among the three prominent buildings situates the event within Amsterdam’s commercial heart, while the reference to Indonesia hints at the broader geopolitical shifts affecting the Dutch empire at that moment.