Willem Van Der Does

1889 – 1966

Willem van der Does (1889-1966), born in Rotterdam, was a Dutch painter, illustrator, and draughtsman known for his accurate impressionistic style. He arrived in Indonesia around 1918 as a civil servant, a role that allowed him to travel extensively across the archipelago and capture its diverse landscapes.

During his time in Indonesia, from 1918 to 1939, van der Does actively participated in various group exhibitions in cities like Jakarta, Medan, and Surabaya. His artworks frequently depicted harbor scenes, city views, and landscapes of the region. After decades in the East, he returned to the Netherlands in 1946, settling in Zeist, where he passed away in 1966.