Willem Alexander Knip (Amsterdam, 31 January 1883 – Blaricum, 28 October 1967) was a prominent Dutch painter and draughtsman, known for his impressionistic depictions of cityscapes, landscapes and harbour views. He often signed his work as 'W.A. Knip'.
Knip was born as the son of Wilhelm Alexander Knip, a swimming teacher from Baden, and Christina Jacoba Schultz from Amsterdam. His artistic education began at the Quellinusschool in Amsterdam, where he studied from 1897 to 1900 under Jan Visser Jr. He then continued his studies at the Kunstnijverheidsschool in Haarlem with Chris Lebeau. In 1901 and 1902 he expanded his horizons by studying at a private academy in Paris.
In 1905 Knip settled in the artists' village of Laren, where he was part of the Laren School. During the 1920s he made study trips to France, Italy and Spain, which enlightened his palette and further refined his style. From 1934 he lived and worked in Blaricum.
Knip's oeuvre includes paintings, watercolours and pastel drawings, with a focus on harbour views, cityscapes and landscapes. His work is characterised by a balanced impressionism and a light, airy colouring. He was a member of Arti et Amicitiae, the Artists' Association Sint Lucas and the Gooische Schildersvereniging. His talent was recognised with the award of the Sint-Lucas Prize in 1942 and the Arti Medal in 1953.
Knip's works are included in the collections of the Van Abbemuseum and the Singer Museum, among others. His paintings are still valued and regularly offered at art auctions. His contribution to Dutch painting, particularly within the Laren School, remains of lasting value.
