Huib Luns

Huibert Marie Luns (6 June 1881, Paris – 24 February 1942, Amsterdam) was a Dutch painter, sculptor and writer. He also designed book covers, posters and medals. Shortly after his birth, his parents returned to Amsterdam. His interest in art was inspired by a visit to the studios of Lawrence Alma-Tadema, a Dutch painter who lived in London. He received his first drawing lessons from the brothers Antoon and Theo Molkenboer, then went to the Rijksnormaalschool for arts and crafts in Amsterdam and served an internship at the Rijksakademie. He established his first studio in Brussels, where his parents were then living, and became a member of Pour L'Art; an association of young artists. While there, he worked with the Belgian sculptor, Charles van der Stappen. In 1904, he entered the Prix de Rome competition, but his friend, Jan Sluijters, was the winner. That same year, he was a runner-up for the Willink van Collenprijs. Four years later, he became a teacher at the Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten en Technische Wetenschappen (now known as the "Willem de Kooning Academie") in Rotterdam.