Charles Burki, Woman in Fur Collar Winter Portrait Illustration, 1955, Paper

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Woman in Fur Collar – Winter Portrait Illustration by Charles Burki, 1955 This evocative portrait by Charles Burki (1909–1994), signed … Read more Woman in Fur Collar – Winter Portrait Illustration by Charles Burki, 1955 This evocative portrait by Charles Burki (1909–1994), signed and dated 1955, captures a haunting stillness and quiet strength in a young woman wrapped in a fur-collared parka. Set against a northern landscape of snow, pine forest, and frozen water, the scene is delicately rendered in shades of grey and sepia. In the distance, a small seaplane lifts from the icy surface while a lone figure waves farewell — a cinematic moment of solitude and departure. Burki’s handling of ink and watercolor wash is masterful. The softness of the fur contrasts with the fine detail in the woman’s hair and the delicate modeling of her face. Her expression is introspective, caught between melancholy and resilience, embodying the emotional nuance that characterizes Burki’s best post-war work. The background, painted with broad tonal washes, enhances the mood of silence and separation that defines the image. Born in Bandung, Dutch East Indies, Charles Burki experienced an extraordinary and often perilous life. Before and during the Second World War, he worked as an illustrator and designer in the East Indies. When the Japanese occupied the region, he was imprisoned in internment camps and later survived two near-fatal ordeals: the sinking of a transport ship carrying prisoners of war and, soon after, the atomic bombing of Nagasaki while being transferred through Japan. These traumatic experiences profoundly shaped his outlook and artistic expression. After the war, Burki returned to the Netherlands, where he rebuilt his career as one of the country’s most gifted illustrators. His work appeared in leading Dutch periodicals such as Elsevier, De Groene Amsterdammer, and Haagse Post, as well as in numerous adventure novels and postwar publications. His art combined meticulous realism with emotional depth, often reflecting themes of survival, humanity, and quiet endurance. This 1955 work belongs to Burki’s reflective postwar period, when his compositions turned increasingly introspective — focusing not on conflict, but on recovery, solitude, and remembrance. Condition: Excellent condition, with light natural toning and minor handling traces at the outer edges. Framing tips: A silver, grey, or light oak frame with a wide white mat will emphasize the cold luminosity of the winter setting and enhance the emotional stillness of the portrait. Technique: Ink and watercolor wash on paper Maker: Charles Burki, Dutch, 1955 See less