Lecture: Charles Eyck in Curaçao
What brought Charles Eyck to Curaçao in 1952, and what did the island bring him? In this lecture, art historian Monique Dickhaut shares insights into Eyck’s remarkable stay on the Caribbean island.
On 1 November 1952, Charles Eyck arrived in Curaçao, where he would stay for six and a half months. On 10 May 1953, he left the island aboard the Napoli, writing to Teun Struyken, Governor of the Netherlands Antilles: “Financially poorer than when I arrived,” he noted, “but spiritually enriched with a wealth of exotic discoveries — which, in time, once I’m back in Holland, will come to completion. I hope that the happiness I will regain from that will allow me to recall the less pleasant experiences without any bitterness.”
Why did Eyck feel such a strong urge to leave the Netherlands, even if only temporarily? What did he find ‘on the other side of the ocean,’ and what did this journey bring him, both artistically and personally? These questions — and many more — will be explored during this lecture.
About Monique Dickhaut
Monique Dickhaut (born 1959) is an art historian. For nearly twenty-five years, she served as director and curator of Museum aan het Vrijthof in Maastricht. During that time, she organised various exhibitions and publications on art and artists in Limburg between 1900 and 1965, including an exhibition and monograph on Henri Jonas (1878–1944). In 2019, she earned her PhD at the Open University with her dissertation Arcadia Beyond. The Limburg Art Debate in the Post-War Reconstruction Period (1945–1965).
For the exhibition On the other side of the ocean, she conducted research into Charles Eyck’s (1897–1983) stay in Curaçao in 1952–1953 and the reasons behind his journey to and from the Caribbean island.
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This event is part of the Year of Heerlen Heritage. Throughout 2025, numerous activities and events in Heerlen will highlight and bring to life the city’s rich heritage.