Co Breman (1865-1938) comes from a family of six. At home they had a forge and carpentry factory. However, his father died early and Co came under the care of guardians, who encouraged him to attend the painting and drawing school of Jan Derk Huibers in Zwolle. Around 1889 he studied at the Academie Royal des Beaux Arts in Brussels and earned his bread and beer in decorative studios. He also found work in this field in Paris and was influenced by Art Nouveau, the symbolism and pointilism of Seurat and Signac.
Via Amsterdam, where he became a member of the Guild of Saint Luke and Arti et Amicitiae, the colorful Breman moved to Het Gooi in 1897. Together with (hobby chef) Derk Meeles, Elias Stark and Douwe Komter, he rented the "Oude Brouwerij " in Blaricum. They led a cheerful and carefree bohemian life with grand parties and many visits to Jan Hamdorff's 'Pub'.
In Het Gooi Breman increasingly focused on free painting with his own style in bright colors and sunny effects. He mainly painted meandering landscapes, farms, colorful interiors and figures with great attention to composition. He also often recorded his birthplace around the IJssel.
Together with Jan Toorop and Ferdinand Hart Nibbrig, he was one of the first painters in the Netherlands to work in the pointillist style. In the Netherlands, people initially had to get used to the special, vibrating light on his paintings, but his work soon found its way to many buyers.
Breman regularly exhibited at the exhibitions of 'De Tien'. He also exhibited abroad, including in Madrid, Berlin, London, San Francisco and Glasgow. Breman lived in Laren from 1913 with his wife Lizzy Schouten, who was a portrait painter and with whom he had a daughter. They also lived together in Italy for a while. He died on November 18, 1938, aged almost 73. From 1921 until his death he was chairman of the Artists' Association Laren-Blaricum; in Laren the 'Co Bremanlaan' is named after him. His work can be seen in the Frans Hals Museum, the Dordrechts Museum and the Singer Museum, among others.
