German Grobe (1857-1938) was the son of a merchant and studied in Frankfurt, Munich and the Academy in Düsseldorf and was apprenticed to landscape and marine painter Eugen Dücker and Andreas Achenbach. He frequently visited Katwijk with Dücker and then always returned to Katwijk in the summer. Like many, he was fascinated by the natural beauty of that environment and also started painting in the Hague School style according to H.W. Mesdag and Anton Mauve. From 1887 onwards he always came to Katwijk in the summer. In 1937, his fiftieth visit was festively celebrated with an exhibition. He also visited Vlissingen, Egmond aan Zee, Normandy, the island of Sylt in northern Germany and Egernsund in Denmark.
German Grobe (1857-1938) was the son of a merchant and studied in Frankfurt, Munich and the Academy in Düsseldorf and was apprenticed to landscape and marine painter Eugen Dücker, with whom he visited Katwijk. Another painter from Düsseldorf Andreas Achenbach also inspired him. He frequently visited Katwijk with Dücker and then always returned to Katwijk in the summer. Like many, he was fascinated by the natural beauty of that environment and also started painting in the Hague School style according to H.W. Mesdag and Anton Mauve. From 1887 onwards he always came to Katwijk in the summer. In 1937, his fiftieth visit was festively celebrated with an exhibition. He also visited Vlissingen, Egmond aan Zee, Normandy, the island of Sylt in northern Germany and Egernsund in Denmark.
Moored shrimp cutter
Max Liebermann, whom he met in Katwijk, equally inspired him with his impressionistic working method; Beach views, seascapes, genre works and portraits, with Dutch fishing life as the main theme, mainly determine his extensive oeuvre. His best paintings, watercolors and drawings can compete with the top of the Hague School. Grobe's work can be seen in the Katwijks Museum, the Lakenhal in Leiden, Museum Kunstpalast in Düsseldorf and the Altonaer Museum in Hamburg.