Sal Meijer (1877 - 1965)

Born in 1877, Sal Meijer grew up in the Jewish quarters of Amsterdam. Salomon, or Sally, as his friends called him, would follow his father's footsteps and become an apprentice at a diamond factory at the age of thirteen, during harsh times when the diamond industry in Holland was in decline. Although his apprenticeship provided his family with extra earnings, Sal Meijer still held other part-time jobs to pay for his art lessons. By 1914 his desire to draw had been growing stronger and stronger each day. Moreover, the threat of unemployment as a diamond cutter provided Sal Meijer with enough motivation to continue with his art until his death in 1965.

Sal Meijer's "Works of Art"

Though Sal Meijer traded his career as a future diamond-cutter to become an artist, he strongly believed himself to be a craftsman rather than an Artist. Although he had the ability to make his subjects come alive, he did not use any fashionable bright red colors and techniques like his contemporaries; nor was he the inventor of any great art theories that changed the course of art history. He merely recorded every day life in a realistic and cheerful manner. He therefore preferred to call his own work not 'Works of Art' but rather pieces of craftsmanship.

"Artless"

Sal Meijer's simplicity of recording every day life was often berated. Critics viewed his work as lacking artistic courage. Only when his art form was compared to the contemporary artist Roussai did Sal Meijer begin to attract a broader audience and appreciation. Praised for his realistic fashion (which was not primitive at all) and the human aspect in his work, Sal Meijer continued believing that the world around us should not be painted prettier; rather, he wanted to paint the simplicity and beauty of everyday life . In other words, to paint the world as it is and nothing more.

Appreciation and respect for Meijer's work came at a very late time in his career. The economic depression at the beginning of the 20th century did not help matters; he still needed one or two part-time jobs to support himself. In 1957, the long-awaited recognition finally came when a small article featuring Sal Meijer was published. A quote from the article, "Raphael of cats", was later used for a catalogue title featuring his work. In 1965, the gallery Mokum, located in Amsterdam, exhibited his art. On this particular evening alone more than half of his work was sold. The love for Meijer's work was not just a brief phase; it was here to stay.