Johannes Jan Schoonhoven square wall relief Netherlands 2018

This large-scale square wall relief, created by Johannes Jan Schoonhoven in his studio in Amstelveen in 2018, stands out as a compelling example of his distinctive relief technique. Constructed using papier-mâché, pigment, and paint on canvas, the work reveals the artist’s fascination with surface, rhythm, and illumination. The composition’s structured, grid-like form bears the imprint of his grandfather Jan Schoonhoven’s influence, yet it asserts a clear and modern artistic voice. The monochrome palette enhances the interaction of light and shadow across the surface, giving the piece a lively and engaging texture. It serves as a powerful example of Schoonhoven’s commitment to material experimentation and minimalist principles. The work is in excellent condition, and it is signed and dated on the reverse; Jan Schoonhoven Jr 2018.

Johannes Schoonhoven (born December 24, 1975, in Amsterdam), previously known as Jan Schoonhoven Jr., is a Dutch contemporary artist and the grandson of the famed artist Jan Schoonhoven.

His reliefs often incorporate finely drawn blue and red lines, with blue appearing most frequently in his sketches. Using materials such as cardboard, papier-mâché, and optical glass, his artworks commonly include red, white, and blue tones. A self-taught creator, he resides and produces work in Amstelveen. In 2011, he launched an artwork into the sea enclosed in plastic, with a note inside. The next month, he released another into the air, carried by balloons. His 2013 piece White Wave fetched over €6,000 at Christie’s Paris in 2017 and £7,500 at Sotheby’s London.

In February 2012, Schoonhoven co-founded the collective ZERO+ with fellow artists John Breed, Jan ten Have, and Rob Scholte. The group draws inspiration from the Dutch Nul movement, an extension of the international Zero movement, which involved his grandfather. Like Nul, ZERO+ emphasizes themes of repetition, simplicity, and the use of ordinary materials. Their founding coincided with a group exhibition held in Bergen.