Dutch painter of the ever changing landscape of the Ijssel river.
Voerman was the son of a farmer. He was born in the small medieval picturesque Hanse city Hattem, that lies on the opposite side of the river IJssel as Zwolle. Hattem got city rights in 1299, the elder and larger city Zwolle in 1230, granted by the bishop of Utrecht. There was always some rivalry between the on both sides of the river existing cities. But Voermans cattle and clouds did not mind about the human, all too human “the grass is always greener on the other side”.
Voerman showed an early talent for drawing, got painting lessons at age 12 and visited from 1876 to 1883 the Rijksacademie van Beeldende Kunst in Amsterdam. Between 1880-1881 he also studied in Antwerp. After his graduation (1883, Amsterdam) he lived in Amsterdam in the atelier of Jozef Israels. He first like Israels painted the Jewish life of the Amsterdam then working class district The Jordaan.
He became a member of “Arti en Amicitiae” and became befriended with the painter and munch Jan Verkade. Together they travelled to his parental city Hattem and the nearby Kampen to paint his typical piece-full landscapes of resting cattle along the river De Ijssel. And even though the subject was always the same, the clouds and the light were even changing. And he contemplated on it: “Let maar niet op Voer, hij is aan het broeden op een wolk” (Do not disturb Voer, as he is breeding on a cloud) his wife Anna characterised him.
One can visit the Voerman Museum Hattem
Voerman also designed book covers.
Personal
On 1 October 1889 Voerman married in Hattem his friends sister Anna Henrietta Gezina Verkade (26 March 1866 11 AM, Zaandam – 2 September 1939, Hattem). They got five children: Jan Voerman jr (23 Jan 1890 – 1976), a lithographer, Tijs Voerman (1891 – ?), Eduard Voerman (1893-1971), Willem Voerman (1894-?) and Paul Voerman (1896-?).
Voerman died at the age of 84 in Hattem on 25 March 1941.

Link to Dutch Wikipedia