Location director Marie-Anne de Groot was allowed to receive the work: “It really has become a very beautiful painting.” According to her, it is important that despite their punishment, the prisoners can still use their qualities. “We want people to spend their time in such a way that they ultimately go outside better than they entered.”
During the handing of the painting, Max expressed his gratitude for being allowed to paint in his cell. After the transfer to the director, the canvas got a nice place in the staff canteen.
“Painting turned out to bring this man peace. It helped him to get self -insight and to further develop. That is why we facilitated him to be able to work in his own cell,” said the prison director.
Max has been in the Norgerhaven for years. During the day he follows the day program, but during the many hours he spends in his cell, he paints a lot. He spent 1100 hours on this work.
He did that with an eye for detail: the thinnest lines are meticulously painted with a brush that he himself worked until only three hairs were left.