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Dick Cassée collection

 Collection
Identifier: ubl296

Scope and Contents

Dick Cassée is considered a preeminent representative of Dutch abstract-geometric art. His usually monochromatic prints, brown in case of the drypoints, yellow in the majority of the metalcuts, leave little room to detect representational elements. Nevertheless his images have always been based on the observation of nature, as can be seen most clearly in his watercolours.

Dates

  • Creation: 1960s-now

Conditions Governing Use

Regulations that apply during the use of these materials can be found on the website of Leiden University Library.

Biographical / Historical

Dick Cassée (1931) has been a highly successful graphic artist all throughout his career. Born in 1931 in Boemendaal, he took his education from the art academy in Enschede. The famous architect Aldo van Eyck was one of his teachers. Cassée made several visits to Paris and in 1961 he was temporarily employed in the workshop of Stanley Hayter. This proved to be decisive for his artistic career. Having practiced etching before, he now committed to the medium of drypoint. Relief printing was the other technique favoured by Cassée. He initially made metalcuts but later on in his career he switched to synthetic printing plates. From the mid 1960s Cassée has had a rewarding career as a graphic artist, combining his artistic work with a post as teacher at the academy in Den Bosch. The artist, now retired, lives and works in Amsterdam.

Extent

170 prints (circa) and 50 drawings, three printing plates and one sketchbook

Language of Materials

Undetermined

Abstract in Dutch

Verzameling grafiek en aquarellen van de grafisch kunstenaar Dick Cassée.

Abstract in English

Collection of prints and drawings of the artist Dick Cassée.

Physical Location

Leiden University Library, Special Collections

Other Finding Aids

The prints can be found in the catalogue of the library by searching for the artist’s name.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of the artist in 2013 and 2015.

Appraisal

The donation comprises a nearly complete survey of the artist’s work.

Accruals

More works by Cassée may be acquired, either through purchases or donations.

Related Materials

Prints by Dick Cassée have been present in the graphic collections of Leiden University Libraries before the artist made his donations. The collections of Mr. Piet Cleveringa and of Nienke Bakker contained a number of his prints. A donation by Ms M. Abeling-Willemse in 2012 consisted of 15 prints by Cassée, including a portfolio of seven drypoints accompanying a text by René Char.

Separated Materials

Larger collections of Dick Cassée’s art can be found in the museums in Amsterdam and The Hague.

Bibliography

  • RKD (Dick Cassée)
  • Schaeps, J., Dick Cassée: grafiek uit de jaren '60 en '70. Leiden 2001.

General

The prints can be requested through the online catalogue and can be consulted in the Special Collections Reading Room. Not all prints are catalogued yet but they will be in due course. Uncatalogued prints from the donation of Dick Cassée can be requested in the Reading Room for consultation.

Processing Information

The prints and drawings belong to the holdings of the University Library and are in the process of being catalogued.

Title
Collection guide of the Dick Cassée collection (1960s-now)
Subtitle
Collectie Dick Cassée
Author
Jef Schaeps, 2018
Date
2018
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Beschrijving is in het Engels.

Revision Statements

  • 11 December 2018: latest update

Repository Details

Part of the Leiden University Libraries Archives & Collections Repository

Contact:
Witte Singel 27
Leiden 2311 BG Netherlands
+31 71 527 2857