About the artist
Joannes Petrus Josephus (Jan) Franken Pzn. (The Hague, November 18, 1896 – there, February 27, 1977) was a Dutch painter and draftsman. He was educated at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague. His teacher was Frits Jansen.
Franken was a painter of winter landscapes, portraits and still lifes. He lived and worked in The Hague. The figurative style that he was taught during his training remained characteristic of his style. Mies Biermasz and Charles Stok were his students.
In addition to drawings and paintings, he also made woodcuts, book illustrations, binding designs and ex-libris. He was a member of Pulchri Studio, Group (The Hague), the Hague Art Circle, Vereeniging tot Bepromote der Grafische Kunsten De Grafische, de Onvrijen (Amsterdam) and the Dutch Federation of Professional Associations of Artists.
His work is on display in the Gemeentemuseum The Hague and the Singer Museum in Laren.