Artwork information

In 1930 or 1931, Schoon enrolled at the Academie van Beeldende Kunsten en Technische Wetenschappen in Rotterdam. He returned to Java in 1936, then relocated to Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1939, before moving to Wellington in May 1941. A series of photographic albums from these years offers rare and valuable insight into the environments where he studied and worked. The Rotterdam album features images of Schoon with fellow art school classmates and posing beside statuary, capturing his early artistic development. The Javanese albums show him in his studio and include portraits of Indonesian models, reflecting his cultural engagement and studio practice during this period. The New Zealand album highlights Schoon's social and creative circles, featuring photographs of friends, including noted artist Gordon Walters. Together, the albums form an important visual record of Schoon’s journey across continents and cultures, documenting both his evolving artistic life and the personal relationships that shaped his work.