Jannes Grootenhuis

Jannes Roelofsz Grootenhuis (1842-1925) was born in Ommen, NL and was married there in 1868 to Jacobi Oort, a domestic servant, born in Avereest in 1843. They resided in Zwolle for twelve years and then moved to Almelo. But he can be traced in later years in Zwolle, Hoogeveen, De Wijk, Meppel, Germany, and back again to Zutphen and Winterswijk in the Netherlands. He wandered around by himself in his quest to earn a living; Jacobi stayed in Almelo, where she died in 1907. She experienced at least fourteen pregnancies; only three children reached adulthood. The widower died in Wijhe, NL, where some of his family lived. Jannes started to make cut-outs at a young age and produced a large oeuvre. A score of cuttings are known. Some are as big as a newspaper. In his wedding cut-outs he often portrayed the trade of the bridegroom: ‘Carpenter’s Welfare’ and ‘Prosperous agriculture.’ The dated pieces are from the period 1850-1875, so before and shortly after his marriage; Most of them were for couples in North-East Overijssel (Lutten, Avereest, Gramsbergen, Hardenberg, Wierden, Almelo), where he had built up a name in this area. But after that period there was no time for making cut-outs. He had to provide for his family as a tailor; he was often away from home, going from door to door asking if there was anything to be mended. One time he got into a fight with another tailor who had made cruel remarks about Jannes’ financial position. Jannes was severely wounded and reported the attack. His attacker was fined 15 guilders. It was a difficult existence.