Magda Luttikhuizen (1949), intriguing and characteristic is her own style, which one recognizes from thousands. Her paintings contain clearly recognizable elements and can therefore be called figurative. On the other hand, there are the recurring rectangular and square surfaces, which add a clear abstract element in combination with a division of the surface into vertical narrow and wide strips. Also characteristic are the recurring earth tones (yellows, ochres, burnt sienna, browns and warm reddish browns) in combination with light blue skies and the addition of texts and letters to the image. Forms, once found and appreciated by her, soon find their place again, but then in the context of a new and yet different painting. Magda Luttikhuizen about the background of her work:

She says: “If I try to summarize the essence of my work in one word, it is space. Whether it's nature, the beach or a square in a city: space gives me a good feeling. To me it means both limitlessness and limitation. That is why in my work you often see vertical elements, for example trees, fences, poles, in the middle of expanse. Space makes you realize that you are a tiny part of a greater whole, that you dissolve into it, as it were. This makes your problems more relative. For me, space also has to do with the beauty of abandonment. Actually I am a loner, since childhood. Basically everyone is alone, the key point is whether you can accept it as such. I can do that better in a large space than between four walls.”

Magda Luttikhuizen also writes poems. She explains the relationship between her paintings and poems as follows: “For me, poetry is close to painting. In both cases you put down images, in which I strive for ambiguity, for multiple layers. Language means more to me than visual images. In addition, I like the image of letters. In my paintings you sometimes find fragments of sentences or words that are not always legible. The interaction between word and image is constantly going on, it ping-pongs back and forth. Suddenly I see a sentence in an old poem that fits an image exactly. Or vice versa.

The artworks below by Magda Luttikhuizen are available at