Beat Goes On with Herman Brood
Musician, painter, actor, poet, Herman Brood was a modern renaissance man. This year the creative and multi-talented Herman Brood (1946 – 2001) would have turned 75, and in his memory,…
Musician, painter, actor, poet, Herman Brood was a modern renaissance man. This year the creative and multi-talented Herman Brood (1946 – 2001) would have turned 75, and in his memory, the Royal Dutch Mint is launching a series of three special issues in collaboration with the Brood family.
Beginning his career in the arts with a focus on music, Brood played in various bands before gaining some notoriety with the song Saturday Night from his band Herman Brood & His Wild Romance. After that his creative interests shifted towards visual arts, where he was influenced by the Cobra tradition of progressive artists and excelled in capturing the essence of rock performance.
Brood’s style is characterized by large canvases with bright colors and thick black lines. These bright primary colors were largely a necessity: Brood was color blind. The signature “brood” often forms a striking part of the painting.
As with many artists and musicians, Brood met an unfortunate end after a life embodied by the sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. Brood took his own life in July of 2001, but left behind a legacy of emotive art that showcases his times very well.
The Royal Dutch Mint has employed Brood’s art in these medals honoring what would have been his 75th year. Four major works can be found in this series of medals; “The Beat Goes On”, “Gitaarman”, “IK” and the darkly omniscient “Where Were You When I Needed You”.
The one ounce silver medal from the Herman Brood series features his very dark and personal work “Where Were You When I Needed You”. The artist himself is shown in a portrait used on all coins in the series. The classic “brood” signature can be seen at the left side across from Brood’s face.
Those with a serious love for Brood’s art will appreciate the largest entry in the series. A five ounce silver medal featuring the painting “IK” of a keyboardist will be issued in a run of only 75 pieces, for Herman Brood’s 75th Birthday. Prooflike and with a plain edge, this piece is 60 millimeters in diameter and carries a hefty price tag of about $1,200.
Purchase and enjoy the whole Brood collection and other coins and medals on the Royal Dutch Mint website at www.royaldutchmint.com/official-store.
