SwissArtGallery · Documented identity

Lucebert

Lubertus Jacobus Swaanswijk (Amsterdam, 15 September 1924 – Alkmaar, 10 May 1994), known as Lucebert, was a Dutch artist, poet, painter and draughtsman. A member of CoBrA, he also took part in the Experimentele Groep in Holland; the magazine Reflex, associated with this movement, appeared in two issues from October–November 1945. One source also links him to the Dutch literary movement De Vijftigers and states that most of his poems were published in Gedichten 1948-1965. The phrase “Alles van waarde is weerloos”, translated in one source as “Everything of value is powerless/defenceless”, is associated with his name.

According to a biography, he attended art school for half a year; in 1947, a Franciscan convent offered him accommodation in exchange for a mural. After a period devoted to writing poetry, he worked mainly in the visual arts, described as figurative and expressionist in the 1960s. His literary career was recognised with several awards: the Herman Gorter Prize in 1953, 1956 and 1962, the Constantijn Huygens Prize in 1965, the P.C. Hooft Prize in 1967, the Dutch Letters Prize in 1983 and the Van Looy Prize in 1990. An auction catalogue lists a work titled “Oriental Couple” and gives its provenance as Galerie Fischlin in Lausanne, followed by a private collection in French-speaking Switzerland.

This profile brings together identity references for Lucebert and paintings, drawings and works on paper documented in auction catalogues.

9 references are documented at Dobiaschofsky, Germann, Lempertz. Each record links to its source; the amounts are not a general valuation of the artist’s work.

Works recorded at auction

Lempertz · Lot 719

Die Narren

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

Die Narren
Öl auf Leinwand

Auction date : 2019-06-01

Published result : 13640 EUR

Including buyer’s premium

Estimate : 8000

View the lot at the auction house ↗

Dobiaschofsky · Lot 1576

Untitled

Mixed media on paper

Original catalogue wording

Sans titre.
Mischtechnik auf Papier

Catalogue period : 2019-05-09

Published result : 570 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 500

View the lot at the auction house ↗

Dobiaschofsky · Lot 489

“Oriental couple”.

Acrylic on artist's board.

Original catalogue wording

"Couple oriental".
Acryl auf Mkt.

Catalogue period : 2018-05-04

Published result : 2800 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 2600

View the lot at the auction house ↗

Dobiaschofsky · Lot 1672

Fabelwesen.

Watercolour

Original catalogue wording

Fabelwesen.
Aquarell

Catalogue period : 2018-05-03

Published result : 330 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 600

View the lot at the auction house ↗

Dobiaschofsky · Lot 810

Komposition mit zwei Gesichtern.

Watercolour

Original catalogue wording

Komposition mit zwei Gesichtern.
Aquarell

Catalogue period : 2017-11-10

Published result : 1500 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 1000

View the lot at the auction house ↗

Dobiaschofsky · Lot 558

"dRoom".

Gouache

Original catalogue wording

"dRoom".
gouache

Catalogue period : 2014-05-16

Published result : 1900 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 2400

View the lot at the auction house ↗

Germann

Untitled, 1989

Öl, Aquarell und Gouache auf Papier.

Original catalogue wording

Ohne Titel, 1989
Öl, Aquarell und Gouache auf Papier.

Date to be documented

Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed

View the lot at the auction house ↗

Dobiaschofsky · Lot 489

"Vrouw en Hond".

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

"Vrouw en Hond".
Öl auf Leinwand

Date to be documented

Published result : 10000 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 15000

View the lot at the auction house ↗

Dobiaschofsky · Lot 589

"Die Kartenlegerin".

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

"Die Kartenlegerin".
Öl auf Lwd.

Date to be documented

Published result : 8000 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 13000

View the lot at the auction house ↗

Sources and references

• Reference record
• LoC · Reference link only; institutional text and images are not reproduced.
• MNAV · Reference link only; institutional text and images are not reproduced.
• Documentary source
• Documentary source
• Documentary source

SwissArtGallery documentary note based on the cited sources. Titles, media and qualifications are provided in the profile language; the original catalogue wording remains available in each record.
Documentation updated : 2026-10-19