Edna Moore and Bart van der Schelling

December 16, 2011
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Diana Anhalt (author of A Gathering of Fugitives, American Political Expatriates in Mexico, 1948-1965), and Yvonne Scholten, biographer of the Dutch miliciana Fanny Schoonheyt, are  interested in obtaining information on the Dutch Lincoln Brigade volunteer Bart van der Schelling.  He was admired as  a  baritone–he recorded Songs of the Spanish Civil War, a number of them with Pete Seeger. In later life he acquired a reputation as a primitive painter.  He and his wife, Edna Moore, were longtime residents of Mexico where they fled during the Red Scares.  Information on the latter would also be welcome.  Contact Yvonne Scholten here.

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2 Responses to “ Edna Moore and Bart van der Schelling ”

  1. Anne Gordon on September 20, 2012 at 7:06 pm

    My husband, Lou Gordon, VALB, bought a painting by Bart in California in C. 1980. It is a scene of a Mexican church with a large tree, done in guache. I would appreciate any information about the value of such a work, as I would like to donate it to an organization.

    Thanks,

  2. Jim Kahn on October 31, 2012 at 12:16 pm

    Hello, Mrs. Gordon…My family and I, expatriates as a result of the Hollywood Blacklist, lived for many years in Mexico during the 1950s and were close friends of Bart and Edna. In fact, we witnessed some of Bart’s first efforts with brush and oils. I have many good, albeit somewhat dimmed, memories of his works and many of the early ones did, in fact, feature churches in the Cuernavaca area. I have no idea of their commercial value these days but would dearly love to see a photocopy of the one you have. Would it be possible for you to post it or send it to me directly Many thanks!…Jim Kahn