Fabrique de Puzzles, JvH (1000 pcs)

Welcome to the busiest backstage scene ever drawn: Puzzle Works by Jan van Haasteren throws open the doors of a jigsaw factory in full meltdown. Dozens of workers in blue coveralls hustle along the assembly lines, stack white boxes at breakneck speed and keep an eye on conveyor belts that never stop, while a motorized cart swerves dangerously close to towers of boxes about to topple. A scooter sits parked by a doorway, as if its owner had just leapt straight to work without bothering to switch it off. Higher up, perched on one of the conveyors, a giant red lobster threatens to tip over the whole production line, while a giant octopus with purple tentacles bursts out of a crate and sends the nearest employees into a panic. Near a security barrier wrapped in yellow-and-black hazard tape, uniformed guards try, quite unsuccessfully, to regain control of the situation, all under the amused gaze of a well-dressed couple crossing an elevated walkway, completely oblivious to the mayhem unfolding beneath their feet.

It is no coincidence that the factory itself became the subject of this 1000-piece jigsaw: this scene was created to mark the 75th anniversary of the Nederlandse Spellenfabriek, the Dutch factory where Jumbo's puzzles and games are actually made. The box even includes a bonus poster of the full image, handy as a reference while assembling or for framing once the last piece is in place. Since 1980, scenes signed Jan van Haasteren have traditionally hidden several recurring gags, such as a shark fin, hands or mischievous eyes, turning every puzzle into a genuine visual treasure hunt for sharp-eyed fans.

This Puzzle Works scene carries the signature of Dick Heins, a Dutch illustrator personally invited by Jan van Haasteren in 2013 to join the Studio Jan van Haasteren, alongside Rob Derks. Known for his knack for gags and richly detailed style, Dick Heins had already drawn scenes as wild as The Fair and Chinese New Year.

Dimensions: 68 cm x 49 cm (fully assembled).