Riek de Raat
Dutch painter (1918-2018)
Hendrika Geertruida (Riek) Milikowski-de Raat (6 December 1918, Amsterdam – 5 August 2018 in Eext) was a Dutch communist, resistance fighter and artist who specialised in realism and symbolism with a focus on figures. De Raat's work is exhibited at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and Museum De Lakenhal in Leiden as well as internationally.
Life
De Raat was born into a Christian working-class family who came from the Jordaan district of Amsterdam. From an early age, De Raat wanted to draw but, being the eldest daughter in a family of five children, she had familial duties that left her little time for herself. Her father was unemployed for many years, during the crisis years of the first world war, which meant that she had to work to support her family, working after leaving primary school until the age of 14. In 1930, De Raat joined the socialist Workers Youth Central (AJC, Arbeiders Jeugd Centrale), the youth wing of the Social Democratic Workers' Party, becoming part of the Red Falcons, for the younger children. The AJC promoted socialist cultural ideals in its members that encouraged community values by singing, dancing, physical exercise and camping. One of her friends in the AJC, Alie Offenberg encouraged her to draw. In 1934, she joined the Society for Culture, Development and Recreation of the Communist Party of the Netherlands.
Education
In 1936, De Raat studied at the Institute for Applied Arts Education (IvKNO) at the Gabriël Metsustraat in Amsterdam, for one evening a week.
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