DOI issue:
No. 388 (July 1925)
DOI article:[Studio-talk]
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21403#0075
BRUSSELS
BRUSSELS.—One of the oldest tradi- works of the older men, we have here a
tions of Flemish art is the depiction of pitying generosity not unlike that already
the everyday life of humble people. From displayed by Charles Degroux and Con-
the first scribes who illuminated manu- stantin Meunier. Yet M. Laermans has
scripts, before the brothers Van Eyck, felt differently and has expressed his feel-
through Pieter Brueghel the elder and ings with strong pathos, revolted by the
those who followed him, David Teniers, inequalities and miseries of a badly-
Adriaen Brouwer, Josse Van Craesbeek, organised social scheme. M. Laermans,
and, on the other hand, Jordaens, Sibe- a cultured and lettered man, is himself an
recht and many others, peasants, tramps invalid. Deaf-mute from birth, he has
and knife-grinders have inspired innumer- been deprived of the usual means of
able compositions in which are portrayed expression, but nevertheless he has
episodes characteristic of their lives, and succeeded in giving eloquent expression
which express their joys, their sorrows and in form and colour to his pessimistic view
their revolts. It was not only the " ker- of life. This pessimism is apparent not
messes " and gatherings at the inn which only in his choice of subjects, but also in
attracted the brushes of our painters, the character of the form of the colour-
and of the Dutch and French artists : the harmonies which give such individuality
whole life of the country people has been to the works of this painter. 0 0
depicted in the course of the centuries, a The drawing of his figures is simplified
M. Eugene Laermans, devoting himself in the most expressive manner. He empha-
to the same subjects, has interpreted them sises the physical blemishes of the unhappy
in a new way, with an entirely modern people belonging to a poverty-stricken
feeling. In place of the passive objectivity race, descended from anasmics, drunkards,
and sly humour which we find in the overworked and unfit. Especially the
" THE BATHING-PLACE'
BY EUGENE LAERMANS
69
BRUSSELS.—One of the oldest tradi- works of the older men, we have here a
tions of Flemish art is the depiction of pitying generosity not unlike that already
the everyday life of humble people. From displayed by Charles Degroux and Con-
the first scribes who illuminated manu- stantin Meunier. Yet M. Laermans has
scripts, before the brothers Van Eyck, felt differently and has expressed his feel-
through Pieter Brueghel the elder and ings with strong pathos, revolted by the
those who followed him, David Teniers, inequalities and miseries of a badly-
Adriaen Brouwer, Josse Van Craesbeek, organised social scheme. M. Laermans,
and, on the other hand, Jordaens, Sibe- a cultured and lettered man, is himself an
recht and many others, peasants, tramps invalid. Deaf-mute from birth, he has
and knife-grinders have inspired innumer- been deprived of the usual means of
able compositions in which are portrayed expression, but nevertheless he has
episodes characteristic of their lives, and succeeded in giving eloquent expression
which express their joys, their sorrows and in form and colour to his pessimistic view
their revolts. It was not only the " ker- of life. This pessimism is apparent not
messes " and gatherings at the inn which only in his choice of subjects, but also in
attracted the brushes of our painters, the character of the form of the colour-
and of the Dutch and French artists : the harmonies which give such individuality
whole life of the country people has been to the works of this painter. 0 0
depicted in the course of the centuries, a The drawing of his figures is simplified
M. Eugene Laermans, devoting himself in the most expressive manner. He empha-
to the same subjects, has interpreted them sises the physical blemishes of the unhappy
in a new way, with an entirely modern people belonging to a poverty-stricken
feeling. In place of the passive objectivity race, descended from anasmics, drunkards,
and sly humour which we find in the overworked and unfit. Especially the
" THE BATHING-PLACE'
BY EUGENE LAERMANS
69