International studio (32.1907)

Alexandre Strays

he decided to return to Belgium, either
to Antwerp or to Brussels. In r884
we find him at Malines, looking for
some peaceful corner not too far from
Brussels and Antwerp, wherein he might
select a definite place of abode for the
future. But at this time he was in a
very dejected state, feeling himself gone
astray and enfeebled, and he only per-
force listened to the advice of J. Lam-
beaux, whom he had met again in
Brussels. An attempt at peinture claire,
made in accordance with this advice,
was the occasion of some ill-natured
criticism. Raging internally, Struys
thereupon shut himself up at Malines,
refusing to see anyone, in order that in
silence and solitude he might slowly
recover his damaged individuality—a
noble effort which eventually gave us
works that are deeply touching in their
strong and genuine feeling: Death
(1886), The Breadivinner (1887), The
Sick Child (1888), Comforting the
Afflicted (1889), The Month of Mary
(1890), Trust in God (1891), Despair
“la confiance en dieu” by a. struys (1897), The Lacemaker of Malines

(1900).

twenty-three the professorship which had been left “And here,” writes M. J. du Jardin, in his “Art
vacant by the departure of Charles Verlat. Flamand,” “we have the work of Alexandre Struys.

Struys accepted this
flattering proposal, and
remained at Weimar until
1883. But during these
six years, spent in a too
solemn and too artificial
German milieu, the plea-
sures of society and suc-
cesses at Court once more
weakened and perverted
his true individuality.

The artist suspected this
vaguely himself, and was
convinced of the truth
after some cruel disillu-
sionments in connection
with certain pictures
painted atthis time: Alpha
and Omega, The Death oj
Luther, and Christian II.

Towards the end of
1882 Struys quitted Wei-
mar and went to the

Hague; but subsequently “desesperi!” by a. struys

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