Jan Toorop

Jan Toorop Fine Art Prints

Jan Toorop (1858-1928) brought together influences that no other artist of his time combined — Javanese shadow puppetry from his Indonesian upbringing, European Symbolism, and the sinuous line of Art Nouveau. Works like O Grave and Metamorfoze show his signature style: elongated figures, rhythmic flowing lines, and an atmosphere caught between the spiritual and the decorative. His commercial work, including the Salad Oil Ad and Play Venise sauvee poster, proves that even applied design carried his unmistakable visual signature. Toorop's compositions have a distinctive pull — once you recognise the rhythm of his line, you see it everywhere in turn-of-the-century European graphic art.

All prints are produced in our Berlin studio on 225g fine art paper in sizes A3, 50×70cm, 70×100cm, and A0, using archival pigment inks built to hold their colour for well over a century.

Displaying Jan Toorop

Toorop's flowing compositions and fine linework are best served on matte fine art paper, where every curve and contour stays sharp. The detail in works like O Grave — those elongated hands, the flowing hair that becomes pure line — needs a surface that does not soften or absorb. Fine art paper delivers that precision.

His work tends toward vertical or portrait orientations and makes a strong statement on its own or paired with other Art Nouveau or Symbolist pieces. Frame options include oak for a warm surround that complements his organic line, black for clean contrast against his intricate compositions, or walnut brown for a period-appropriate feel that suits the era of his work. All paper prints can be ordered framed or unframed. For the poster works — the Salad Oil Ad and Play Venise sauvee — a larger format like 70×100cm or A0 gives the typography and figural work the scale they were originally designed for.

Related Collections

Toorop sits at the crossroads of Symbolism and Art Nouveau, which makes him a natural bridge between several collections at Kuriosis. If his decorative line appeals to you, Alphonse Mucha is the most direct companion — another master of the Art Nouveau poster with a similarly flowing, ornamental approach. For the Symbolist and atmospheric side of his work, our vintage poster collection gathers more turn-of-the-century graphic art with the same visual intensity. And for other Dutch and Northern European masters across different periods, the Dutch art prints collection offers context and contrast.