René Mels (1909-1977) - Composition abstraite chromatique

Artist: René Mels (1909–1977)
School: Belgium
Abstract composition
Dating: late 1960s
Technique: Watercolor on paper
* Dimensions: 44.2 × 32.8 cm
Signature: monogrammed at the bottom right
Unframed sale

Provenance: Private collection of the artist's family.

Condition of preservation

Overall condition: Very good condition
Remarks: Sound and well-preserved paper. The colors retain a beautiful freshness and good uniformity. No major visible deterioration.

Description of the work

This watercolor painting is characterized by an open and fluid composition, built from broad color strokes applied with freedom.

Shapes, deliberately indeterminate, seem to float in space, suggesting an inner landscape or a reminiscence of nature, without explicit figurative reference.

The palette, dominated by soft blues, nuanced greens, and occasional warmer tones, establishes a subtle balance between transparency and intensity. The play of overlays and reserves of the paper gives the whole a luminous breath and great atmospheric sensitivity. The work fully illustrates René Mels' interest in chromatic vibration and pictorial rhythm.

Artistic context

In the late 1960s, René Mels developed a freer and more intuitive abstraction, where color became the main vehicle of expression. The gestural style lightened, the structure became more implicit, giving way to a more meditative and spontaneous painting.

This period marks a crucial transition in his work, between the rigor of more structured compositions and a more lyrical approach, based on the balance of colored masses and suggestion rather than formal definition.

Artist Biography

Born in Herent-lez-Louvain in 1909, René Mels trained at the academies of Louvain and Brussels, then at La Cambre. An important figure in the Belgian art scene after the war, he was associated with the Young Belgian Painting and the Art Abstrait group. His career reflects a constant evolution, from expressionism to a personal abstraction that is both sensitive and structured. He died in 1977 in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert.
This watercolor is a representative example of René Mels' work from the late 1960s, appreciated for its chromatic freshness, controlled spontaneity, and pictorial quality. An attractive piece for enthusiasts and collectors of Belgian abstraction of the 20th century.