René Mels ( 1909-1977) - Composition structurée de 1950
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Selected by Giulia Couzzi
Master’s in culture and arts innovation, with a decade in 20th-21st century Italian art.
Estimate € 300 - € 500
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Original oil on paper artwork by René Mels (1909–1977), titled Composition structurée de 1950, 65 × 50 cm, signed by hand, from Belgium, dated 1950, unframed.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Artist: René Mels (1909–1977) – Belgium
Structured Composition, 1950
Date: 1950
Technique: Oil on paper
Category: Original work – Painting on paper
Dimensions: 65 × 50 cm
Framing
Work sold unframed
Painting mounted on a rigid cardboard, ready to be framed.
A passe-partout is recommended for optimal presentation.
Description of the work
Created in 1950, this oil on paper features a composition built around powerful and stylized volumes, arranged within a synthetic interior space. The forms, deliberately simplified, are treated as autonomous masses, contributing to a clear and balanced pictorial architecture.
The color palette combines deep grayish blues, bright yellows and ochres, as well as strong reds and oranges, creating a dynamic tension between the planes and a strong visual presence. The touch, applied in structured flat areas, remains firm and controlled while maintaining a perceptible gestural freedom.
The work is distinguished by the clarity of its construction and by the deliberate ambiguity between figuration and abstraction. The motif, intentionally non-narrative, serves as a basis for formal exploration focused on the relationships of masses, rhythms, and colors.
Artistic context
In the early 1950s, René Mels was in a crucial transitional phase of his career. Without completely abandoning figuration, he moved towards a radical simplification of his visual vocabulary and a progressively more rigorous structuring of the pictorial space, foreshadowing his commitment to abstraction.
The compositions from this period demonstrate a desire to go beyond the subject matter to achieve autonomy in pictorial construction. Structured composition, 1950 fully exemplifies this approach, where each element is integrated into a precise formal balance.
Signature and authenticity
Work signed and dated 1950.
Signature placed at the bottom of the composition.
State of conservation
Good condition
Painting fixed onto a rigid cardboard, ensuring the support's stability.
Healthy visual surface, with good color retention.
The artwork is ready to be framed; a mat will complete its presentation.
Information about the artist
René Mels (1909–1977) holds a significant place in the history of Belgian art of the 20th century. Trained at the academies of Leuven and Brussels, then at La Cambre, he actively participated in the post-war artistic renewal.
Member of the Belgian Young Painting and the Art Abstrait group, he develops a body of work characterized by the constant pursuit of a balance between constructive rigor and chromatic sensitivity. His progressive evolution from structured figuration to streamlined abstraction gives his work a recognized coherence and depth.
Conclusion
Structured composition, 1950, is a representative and accomplished example of René Mels's intermediate period. Due to its solid construction, mastery of chromatic relationships, and the tension between figuration and abstraction, this work on paper holds significant artistic and historical interest, both for collectors and enthusiasts of Belgian modern art.
Artist: René Mels (1909–1977) – Belgium
Structured Composition, 1950
Date: 1950
Technique: Oil on paper
Category: Original work – Painting on paper
Dimensions: 65 × 50 cm
Framing
Work sold unframed
Painting mounted on a rigid cardboard, ready to be framed.
A passe-partout is recommended for optimal presentation.
Description of the work
Created in 1950, this oil on paper features a composition built around powerful and stylized volumes, arranged within a synthetic interior space. The forms, deliberately simplified, are treated as autonomous masses, contributing to a clear and balanced pictorial architecture.
The color palette combines deep grayish blues, bright yellows and ochres, as well as strong reds and oranges, creating a dynamic tension between the planes and a strong visual presence. The touch, applied in structured flat areas, remains firm and controlled while maintaining a perceptible gestural freedom.
The work is distinguished by the clarity of its construction and by the deliberate ambiguity between figuration and abstraction. The motif, intentionally non-narrative, serves as a basis for formal exploration focused on the relationships of masses, rhythms, and colors.
Artistic context
In the early 1950s, René Mels was in a crucial transitional phase of his career. Without completely abandoning figuration, he moved towards a radical simplification of his visual vocabulary and a progressively more rigorous structuring of the pictorial space, foreshadowing his commitment to abstraction.
The compositions from this period demonstrate a desire to go beyond the subject matter to achieve autonomy in pictorial construction. Structured composition, 1950 fully exemplifies this approach, where each element is integrated into a precise formal balance.
Signature and authenticity
Work signed and dated 1950.
Signature placed at the bottom of the composition.
State of conservation
Good condition
Painting fixed onto a rigid cardboard, ensuring the support's stability.
Healthy visual surface, with good color retention.
The artwork is ready to be framed; a mat will complete its presentation.
Information about the artist
René Mels (1909–1977) holds a significant place in the history of Belgian art of the 20th century. Trained at the academies of Leuven and Brussels, then at La Cambre, he actively participated in the post-war artistic renewal.
Member of the Belgian Young Painting and the Art Abstrait group, he develops a body of work characterized by the constant pursuit of a balance between constructive rigor and chromatic sensitivity. His progressive evolution from structured figuration to streamlined abstraction gives his work a recognized coherence and depth.
Conclusion
Structured composition, 1950, is a representative and accomplished example of René Mels's intermediate period. Due to its solid construction, mastery of chromatic relationships, and the tension between figuration and abstraction, this work on paper holds significant artistic and historical interest, both for collectors and enthusiasts of Belgian modern art.
Details
Artist
René Mels ( 1909-1977)
Sold with frame
No
Sold by
Owner or reseller
Edition
Original
Title of artwork
Composition structurée de 1950
Technique
Oil painting
Signature
Hand signed
Country of Origin
Belgium
Year
1950
Condition
Good condition
Height
65 cm
Width
50 cm
Style
Abstract
Period
1950-1960
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