Cornelis Jan Doolaard (born 1944 in Poortugaal, near Rotterdam) is a Dutch painter associated with the New Figuration movement that emerged in the Netherlands during the 1960s. He began painting at the age of fifteen, showing an early passion for art and visual expression. His talent and dedication led him to enroll at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rotterdam, where he received formal artistic training.
After three years of study, Doolaard decided to leave the academy and pursue his own artistic direction. Rather than following a conventional academic path, he became involved with the young generation of artists who formed the New Figuration movement. This influential group reacted against the dominance of abstract art and sought to reintroduce recognizable subjects, human figures, and elements of everyday life into contemporary painting.
During the late 1960s, New Figuration gained significant attention within the Dutch art world. Doolaard emerged as part of this vibrant artistic climate, developing a personal style that combined strong figurative elements with expressive use of color, form, and composition. His work often reflects a keen observation of people and their surroundings, while maintaining a sense of artistic freedom and experimentation.
Over the course of his career, Doolaard has remained committed to figurative painting, continually refining his visual language. His paintings reveal both technical skill and an interest in storytelling, capturing moments, characters, and atmospheres with sensitivity and imagination. Through his contribution to Dutch figurative art, he has secured a respected place among the artists who helped shape the renewed appreciation of figurative painting in the Netherlands during the second half of the twentieth century.
