“George Hitchcock and Gari Melchers established themselves at the little Dutch village of Egmond […]. The soft, hazy landscape with its exquisite color harmonies, offers infinitive possibilities for the artist, not to mention the quaintly picturesque inhabitants, their red-tiled cottages and the gorgeous effects to be found in the hyacinth and tulip fields, when in all splendor.” (American Art News, 18 February 1905)
This book outlines the origins of a remarkable international artists’ community in Egmond at the end of the nineteenth century. Egmond – consisting of Egmond aan den Hoef, Egmond-Binnen, and Egmond aan Zee – was discovered more or less by chance by foreign artists during the heyday of the Hague School in the Netherlands.
Two American painters, Gari Melchers and George Hitchcock, were inspired by the unspoiled landscape and the tranquil charm of rural village life. In 1884, they settled in Egmond aan Zee and began capturing on canvas the daily existence of its inhabitants, their religious beliefs, and the expansive dune and polder landscapes. The paintings, with Egmond and its residents as central themes, quickly gained worldwide acclaim.
This success drew many other international artists to Egmond – some simply out of personal interest, others specifically to participate in Hitchcock’s Art Summer School. Egmond thus became an important place on the global artistic map.