Book launch ‘Cartoon of war’

On 25 September, exactly eighty years after the liberation of Aarle-Rixtel, folklorist Jeroen Arts, historian Arnoud-Jan Bijsterveld and writer Jola Prinsen will present their book ‘Visual report of the war. Johan Prinsen photographs Aarle-Rixtel, 1939-1944'.

The 144-page book contains and describes a unique collection of wartime photographs by the deserving amateur photographer Johan Prinsen (1896-1973), pudding powder manufacturer in Aarle-Rixtel. By paying attention to visual and technical details and consulting all kinds of sources, the authors uncovered new facts from Aarle's war history.

Granddaughter Jola Prinsen was approached five years ago by Jeroen Arts, who suspected that her family had special photographs and negatives of events in Aarle-Rixtel during the Second World War. Indeed, there turned out to be dozens of largely unknown photos in the family archive. With great care, Jeroen scanned the photos and negatives. Together with historian Arnoud-Jan Bijsterveld, he examined the images. This enabled them to reconstruct the dating and correct order. They also investigated who and what was on the photos. There were pictures from all the war years, such as the mobilisation in 1939, the bridges blown up and the bells requisition in 1942. 

In the process, several new facts came to light. For instance, it turned out that the well-known photographer Martien Coppens developed and printed the photos. The series on the liberation of Aarle-Rixtel is particularly special: the authors discovered that Johan Prinsen photographed the arrival of the first British reconnaissance vehicle in the Dorpsstraat on 22 September 1944, something previously unknown. Even in the days that followed, when the village spent days in the twilight zone between occupied and liberated, Prinsen continued to record events. Finally, he photographed the capture of an alleged collaborator and the liberation celebration in front of the town hall on 25 September.

During the presentation, Roland Roijackers, chairman of Heemkundekring Barthold van Heessel, will interview those involved. A special guest will receive the first copy.

The book presentation will take place at Café/Zaal Bij van Dijk in Aarle-Rixtel. Reception from 19.00 hrs. Start book presentation 19.30 hrs. Registration (free of charge) and/or ordering the book (€29.95) is possible via Jola Prinsen's website.