author
Pieter Mijer
1881–1963
A Dutch-born artist, textile designer, and Olympic fencer, he brought unusual range to everything he did. He is best remembered by readers for a practical early guide to batik that helped introduce the craft to a wider American audience.
1 Audiobook
Batiks, and how to make them
by Pieter Mijer
About the author
Born in Schiedam in the Netherlands on April 12, 1881, he later moved to the United States with his wife in 1917. Before many readers encountered him as an author, he had already built a remarkably varied life, learning fencing as a boy and eventually competing in the individual épée event at the 1928 Summer Olympics.
In New York he worked as a textile designer and became especially known for his expertise in batik, the wax-resist dyeing technique. His book Batiks and How to Make Them, published in the early 1920s, helped explain the craft in a clear, practical way for English-speaking readers and remains the work most closely associated with his name.
He was also connected with the Woodstock art scene and contributed to the magazine Hue and Cry. Pieter Mijer died in New York City on March 10, 1963, leaving behind a life that bridged sport, design, and hands-on art instruction.