Johannes Josephus Aarts distinguished himself as a multifaceted Dutch artist, recognized for his roles as a painter, illustrator, lithographer, engraver, etcher, writer, academic teacher, director, lecturer, sculptor, and book-cover designer. His varied expertise enabled him to make a unique impact across multiple artistic fields during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Jan Aarts underwent his formal education at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, an esteemed institution celebrated for cultivating many accomplished Dutch artists. He remained based in The Hague until 1911, after which he relocated to Amsterdam. There, he continued his professional endeavors until 1934. This relocation represented a pivotal development in his artistic path, bringing him into contact with new influences and opportunities within the Dutch art world.

At the outset of his career, Aarts concentrated mainly on engraving until about 1900, building a reputation for his technical proficiency and meticulous detail in this area. Over time, he broadened his artistic range to include other graphic techniques, experimenting with various methods to express his creativity. His work frequently depicted subjects from everyday life, such as farmworkers and dyke laborers, demonstrating his keen interest in rural communities and the working class.

During the later years of his professional life, particularly between 1920 and 1930, Aarts's work adopted a more visionary and symbolic approach. In this period, he produced many pieces featuring apocalyptic and dramatic themes, as well as portrayals of tramps, beggars, and invalids. Through these works, he revealed his talent for illustrating not only the hardships of his time but also the profound existential concerns of his generation, establishing himself as a key figure in the history of Dutch art.