Paintings and illustrations

The imagination of performance

The Louwman Museum exhibits a wide variety of art objects, including a large number of works by Frederick Gordon Crosby (1885-1943), the famous illustrator of the English magazine The Autocar. Illustrations were more appealing to car magazines than photos. At times, the artist took the artistic liberty of romanticizing reality to some extent. In short, this approach could stimulate the viewer's imagination.

The artist as reporter

He had an enormous talent for drawing and in 1908 he became an illustrator at The Autocar. It was the period before the breakthrough of sports photography, and Gordon Crosby could capture like no one else the atmosphere, enthusiasm and glamour surrounding cars and motor races on paper. In his paintings it feels as if you are standing next to the artist at the moment he makes his first sketches, even if the subject is sometimes portrayed in a slightly romanticized way.

The romance of Gordon Crosby

For example Crosbys impression of the 1906 French Grand Prix. The painting shows the red car of the eventual winner Ferenc Szisz, a Renault, locked in fierce battle with Durays De Dietrich. Gravel is practically flying at the viewer. In reality, the winner finished a full 32 minutes ahead of the rest of the field.

An impressive snapshot of the times

Of course, there are also works by Crosby that depict the sometimes harsh reality. For example, images from car factories, where the working conditions were appalling

However, Crosby also had a humorous side; for example, the Louwman Museum displays a number of caricatures of drivers who were especially well known in England. Many of them made a name for themselves at the Brooklands circuit and are less well known in the rest of Europe.

A tragic end

In 1943 the family suffered a heavy blow when their youngest son was killed in an air battle. Gordon Crosby could not cope with this loss and took his own life that same year. He was only 58 years old.

Book your tickets for the Louwman Museum

Plan your visit to the automobile museum. You will find the Louwman Museum just 15 minutes from The Hague Central Station.