Frans Masereel (1889-1972) - Mijn land

Frans Masereel - My Country

Four beautiful original wood engravings/linocuts by Frans Masereel from a private collection. The linocuts on paper measure 24 by 19 cm, the engravings are 15.5 by 11.5 cm. They are part of the 1964-published collection 'Mijn land'.

Wood engraving 1: Bruges landscape
Wood Engraving 2: Bruges Blood Procession (1)
Woodcut 3: Bruges Blood Procession (2)
Wood engraving 4: Roeselare - Giant Family

Characteristics
- Artist: Frans Masereel
- Title: My Country
Dimensions: 24 x 19 cm
- Condition: Perfect condition
- Signed: Yes, in print.
- Extra: Original work from 1956 (See photos of the colophon and cover - not included).

The whole is professionally packed and insured, shipped with a Track and Trace code. Photos are part of the description. The colophon and the book cover are not included; the purchase includes only the four linocuts.

FRANS MASEREEL

Frans Masereel (1889-1972) was a Belgian artist and graphic designer, known for his expressive and evocative wood engravings.
He was born in Blankenberge, Belgium, and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent.
Masereel developed a distinctive style that frequently addressed social, political and human themes.

His work focused on expressing powerful emotions and stories through black-and-white prints, in which he used strong contrasts and bold lines. Masereel is often associated with the Expressionist movement, and his works reflected his interest in social justice, the struggle of the working class, and the human condition.

Masereel is especially famous for his series of 'picture novels' or 'image novels' (such as 'The City' in 1925), which tell stories without words through a sequence of images. These picture novels were revolutionary for their time and used the power of imagery to communicate emotions and narratives.

In addition to his graphic works, Masereel was also active as an illustrator and painter. He worked extensively in France, Germany, and other European countries, where he influenced various artists and movements. Masereel is still regarded as one of the most important Belgian artists of the 20th century.

BOOK: MY COUNTRY

Frans Masereel's book "Mijn Land" ("Mon Pays") from 1926 (and printed in a limited edition in 1956) is a work in which the artist expresses his view of Belgium and the social and political conditions of his time. The book is notable because it contains not only text, but above all powerful wood engravings, which visually support the content of the book.

In "Mijn Land" Masereel uses the power of imagery to describe the situation in Belgium in the years after World War I. The book highlights social unrest, poverty and industrialization, and emphasizes the plight of the working class and the struggle of the ordinary man against economic and social oppression.

The images in "My Country" are often raw and expressive, and they reflect the struggle and frustration of the people, while at the same time capturing the beauty of the landscape and the culture of Belgium. Masereel combines his critical view of society with a deep love for his homeland, which gives the book a powerful emotional charge.

Just like in his other works, there is hardly any text in "My Country" — the images speak for themselves. Masereel makes use of symbolism, powerful compositions, and contrasts between light and dark to convey his message. It is a work that is both poetic and political, and it reflects his expressive style that, in the 1920s and 1930s, had a great influence on the art world.

In essence, "Mijn Land" is a visual pamphlet that denounces the social reality of its time, but at the same time also reflects the resilience and the beauty of human existence. It is one of Masereel's most iconic works and is still appreciated as an important piece in Belgian art history.

Although the book does not always literally name specific cities, there are clearly references to industrial centers in Belgium. A few cities that are often associated with the context of the book, based on the themes Masereel addresses, are:

* Brussels - As the capital of Belgium and an important political and economic center, Brussels could have an implicit presence in the images that depict urban misery and the conditions of workers.

* Antwerp - The port city, an industrial and commercial center, is another city that is often associated with the working class and the social tensions that Masereel portrays in his work.

* Liège - Liège was at the time one of the most important industrial cities of Belgium, known for its mines and factories. The harsh working conditions and the industrial setting of the city would probably also play a role in Masereel's portrayal of the social landscape.

* Charleroi - Charleroi was also a center of heavy industry, and it is known for its mining and steel industry. The city has a symbolic meaning in Belgian industrial history and would be in line with the themes that Masereel touches on.

Masereel does not give the detailed names of these cities in his work, but his visual style and the social and industrial themes clearly refer to Belgium's industrial centers, where the working class often lived under difficult conditions. The book contains images of factories, alleys, workers' quarters, and the contrast between the modern city and rural tranquility. The cities he depicts are thus more symbolic and represent the general social situation in Belgium at that time, rather than being about specific urban portraits.