A Life Forged in Gouda Born in Gouda, Netherlands, on 31 December 1941, Koos de Bruin’s early years were marked by a departure from the traditional path. After a difficult childhood, he left home at fourteen, finding work as a road worker and truck driver to sustain himself. It was during these long hours and evening shifts that his inclination toward art began to take a firm hold. He eventually sought formal training at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, though his time there was cut short by friction with his instructors. This early friction did not stifle his drive; instead, it pushed…