The Importance of Grandfathers

While growing up without his father was cause for much sadness in his life, Jan still felt loved. He described his grandmother as the person who took him under her wing and protected him throughout his growing-up years but it was his grandfather, Eduard Eggert (1852-1926), who sparked in him the desire to create art.

In the new video clip, you can hear in Jan’s own words how important his grandfather was in helping him develop his talents.

Jan told me once that during the war, paper was a scarce commodity. However, because his grandfather was a magistrate in the town in which they lived, he had access to discarded paper which he brought home to Jan to keep him at work on his art. Even the reverse side of used paper served as a ready canvas for his grandson.