"Johannes has left a stunning collection of paintings which are now, once again, available to the art community"
"Johannes paintings and drawings have been described as work that bridges style and technique influence by a full range of European Modernism and American Abstraction".
Harmanna Kunst
Our Story
The Lone Sentry: A Mission to Save a Master’s Legacy
A Promise Made, A Promise Kept
For sixty years, Harmanna Kunst was the muse and anchor for one of the most prolific Dutch-American artists of the 20th century, Johannes Kunst. When Johannes passed away in 2017, he left behind more than just a collection of paintings; he left a map of a human soul that refused to be broken by war.
Harmanna made a final promise to Johannes: the "Boy in the Attic" would not be forgotten.
The Work of a Lifetime
Today, at 83 years old, Harmanna serves as the Lone Sentry of an extraordinary archive. While others her age might rest, she is in her small gallery space five days a week, working on a fixed income to meticulously inventory thousands of canvases, hand-written love letters, and sketch books that span an ocean and a lifetime.
She isn't just cataloging art; she is protecting a monument to the Dutch spirit. From the sanctuary of an attic in Opeinde to the Royal Collections of the Netherlands, Johannes’s work is a testament to how the human imagination can illuminate even the deepest shadows of WWII.
Why This Collection Matters
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Historical Witness: Johannes’s "War Series" captures the raw, human cost of the occupation of Leeuwarden through the eyes of a child.
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Artistic Innovation: His "Scanning Eye" technique and vibrant "Uplifting Camouflage" placed him alongside modern icons like Andy Warhol and Frank Stella.
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Humanitarian Conscience: His series on the Amazon, Chernobyl, and Global Homelessness serve as a visual manifesto for a better world.
We Cannot Do This Alone
The weight of a 60-year legacy is too heavy for one woman to carry. As we work to move these pieces from private storage to the world's museums, we need your help.
Join Harmanna in her mission. Every donation, every gallery inquiry, and every shared story helps ensure that Johannes Kunst’s light continues to shine.
