Jacqueline de Jong, Dutch Situationist painter known for macabre figuration, dies at 85

Jacqueline de Jong, a Dutch artist known for her painting and sculpture and associated with the Situationist International, has passed away. Her artistic journey, which lasted over sixty years, encompassed styles from Pop art to realism, often reflecting social issues. In her latest exhibition 'Petit Morte' at London's Pippy Holdworth Gallery (running until 10 July), she highlighted the crises in Ukraine and Gaza. Born in Hengelo, Netherlands, she escaped to Zurich in 1942 with her Swiss Jewish mother. After her return, she became part of Amsterdam's art community and later relocated to Paris, departing from the Situationist International in 1962. She initiated The Situationist Times and produced pamphlets during the 1968 Paris student protests. Her art transitioned from depictions of daily life to themes of conflict. A retrospective titled The Ultimate Kiss traveled across Europe from 2021 to 2022.