Evert Rinsema

Dutch shoemaker and poet, who like his brother Thijs, became a noted member of De Stijl. His father Durk Rinsema was a tanner in Drachten. The brothers Thijs en Evert became shoemakers, but thanks to their connections with Theo van Doesburg, became also members of the avant garde movement De Stijl. Evert and Thijs did not follow any secondary education, but both had an interest in art an philosophy. The intelligent Evert learned himself the German language and had a library of Dutch and German writers. When Theo van Doesburg met Evert Rinsema near the Belgian border, both being called to arms during WWI, Van Doesburg was impressed by Evert's philosophical knowledge, especially as he brought it not in the usual abstract and academic way, but in a down to earth and common sense manner. For this Van Doesburg portrayed him as Friedrich Nietzsche (see picture), and they became friends for life. Evert Rinsema wrote down his wisdom in poetry and aphorisms like: "Komt door te zwijgen niets tot stand, door spreken blijft niets staande", which translates as: Keeping silence does not yield anything, but speaking leaves nothing intact (Wat ik dacht. Assen, 1947). On 13 April 1923, the brothers Rinsema introduced Dada in Drachten, by hosting Kurt Schwitters. His "Und als sie in die Tüte sah" got even a Frisian translation that was published in the Dragtster Courant of 17 April. Evert married at age 52 on 22 December 1932 Jacobje "Coba" Jongbloed (23 May 1879 4 PM , Norg - 13 October 1949 0 AM, Assen)in Assen. In his last years Evert suffered from tuberculosis. He stayed in hospitals in Gennep and Heerenveen. In 1958 he returned home in Drachten, but died on 4 July 1958 in the Hospital of Heerenveen. Link to Dutch Wikipedia